Miss Earth crown eludes Gaopalelwe

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday December 15, 2010 00:00

 

Miss Earth Botswana 2009, Tumisang Sebina, who is also the chaperone to the incumbent queen, Onalenna Gaopalelwe, has described her as a success story despite failure to reach the December 4 Miss Earth finals in Vietnam.

Gaopalelwe failed to make it into the top 14 finalists, but excelled in a few preliminary competitions. She clinched first place in the pool party that was used to determine the girls' interaction capabilities. She was runner-up in a golf competition and got sixth position in a talent contest. Her other accomplishment was featuring in the top 40 finalists in the Ao Dai, a traditional Vietnamese dress competition that attracted 83 participants.

Sebina said that Gaopalelwe has made history by becoming the first Motswana to excel in a Miss Earth competition since Botswana started participating in 2006.

She said this proved to the rest of the world that Botswana has talent because like most of her competitors, Gaopalelwe was able to withstand the pressure. 'Gaopalelwe fit in well and demonstrated the best interaction skills that won her the pool party competition,' she said.

The articulate Sebina was disqualified from entering the 2009 Miss Earth pageant because she was two centimetres shorter than the required minimum height.

She, however, said she has learnt a lot from being Gaopalelwe's chaperone. 'Miss Earth pageants need competitors who are well-informed on issues concerning the environment not only in their countries but globally,' she said. Sebina said it is not difficult for aspiring Miss Earth candidates to access this information locally because there are organisations like Somarela Tikologo and the Department of Environmental Affairs. She said that the only problem Miss Earth Botswana faces is lack of sponsorship, which makes it hard to conduct business. 'People should come forth and sponsor such activities because they benefit the environment, which everyone inhabits,' she said. Sebina further urged Batswana to support Gaopalelwe, who is on a mission to create a better environment for the people.

Before leaving for Vietnam a month ago, Gaopalelwe planted 30 trees and conducted several talk shows in schools around her hometown, Selebi-Phikwe. 'I am planning on planting about a million trees around the country before handing over my crown next August,' said Gaopalelwe. The 20-year-old queen said starting next year her focus would be on raising environmental awareness around the country.

The Miss Earth Botswana competition requirements are that the incumbent queen serves her hometown before she can serves the country. Gaopalelwe said she found it fit to focus on planting trees in Phikwe because it is a mining town badly affected by air pollution.

'I believe that planting more tress will help reduce the damage being done to the Ozone layer,' she said. Gaopalelwe said the theme for this year's Miss Earth was 'Water,' which prompted her to plant trees that do not need to be frequently watered, as a way of conserving it (water).

Gaopalelwe said she would like to continue pursuing modelling even after handing over her crown.