Miss RADP returns for fifth year
Spira Tlhankane | Wednesday December 6, 2017 16:13
The pageant that returns for the fifth year will be held under the same theme: “Unearthing natural beauty and talent”.
Giving a keynote address during the launch yesterday, the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Botlogile Tshireletso said when she first conceived the idea of the beauty pageant, she imagined it as creating a critical mass of talented, vibrant and empowering young ladies who would spearhead a transformation agenda.
“A transformation of common perceptions held by many is that there is no beauty and talent at our remote area settlements. I imagined creating empowered agents of change who will be advocates of the Remote Area Dwellers Programme and its noble objectives and intentions,” she said.
She announced that the number of contestants who have participated in the pageant since its inception currently stands at 1,452. Tshireletso said a total of 69 have participated at national level and it shows critical mass and growth. She added that as part of their commemoration of the fifth year anniversary they will bring all four previous queens, first and second princesses to be part of the event.
For her part, Limkokwing University director of communications and stakeholder relations, Mercy Thebe said as a university they pride themselves in contributing towards economic endeavours that shift communities, engages the youth and drives the use of the new technologies and pressing towards contributing to the needs of the national development plan such as the Miss RADP. She said they have been partners with the ministry after signing a memorandum of understanding in 2014.
“This partnership is extremely vital for the university as it gives us an opportunity to play a significant role that changes people’s lives under our corporate social responsibility banner,” she highlighted.
Last year Neo Chantal Barkaath from Qabo won the pageant and received a three-week course sponsorship from Indian Embassy on Entrepreneurship for small business trainers in India. Just like the previous years the winner will walk away with P50,000 for a project of her choice and P10,000 cash. This year they have introduced new categories like best talent, best dress and Miss Congeniality and each prize is worth P2,000.
This year’s contestants are from the settlements of (Kweneng), Tshwaane, (Kweneng), Sekhutlane (Southern), Kutuku (Southern), Kgomodiatshaba (Kgatleng), Maake (Kgalagadi), Kokotsha (Kgalagadi), Tobera (North West), Khwai (North West), New Xade (Gantsi), Qabo (Gantsi), Zoroga (Central) and Gojwane (Central).