Age won't deter 47-year-old Mackennie

LEKOPANYE MOOKETSI
Correspondent | Thursday March 4, 2010 00:00

 

And Mackennie's dream nearly came true when she entered the recent  Miss Millennium beauty pageant.  The mother  of two, might not have walked away with the main title, but she scooped its equivalent - the Miss Personality  award.

It was indeed a huge consolation prize for Mackennie who was entering a beauty pageant for the first time in her life. She was not overawed by the occasion at all.

Although she is a novice,  Mackennie says she never had any stage fright.  In fact she was motivated by the crowd. 

She says she entered the pageant  just to try her luck.  'My friends encouraged me to try my luck.  They said maybe 'you will win',' she says.  For her, everything was about  fun.

Her two daughters also told her she would make it and wished her the best of luck.

She says she also entered the pageant  so that she could get  a chance to work for charity.  She is willing to work with Miss Millennium,  Theresa Hirschfeld, on some of the projects that the beauty queen plans to embarking on. 

Mackennie confesses that she never  expected to walk away with the Miss Personality award, but she says the title epitomises her character.  

She describes herself as an outgoing friendly person.  Even her colleagues at the Ministry of Health will testify to her friendly attitude.   As part of her prizes, Mackennie was given an  ice bucket,  a bouquet  of roses, a bottle of champagne and a voucher  for her hairdo at the Ultimate Hair Salon.  But to her , the prizes are not really important.  What she values most is the fact that after winning she will be able to help the needy.

The Miss Valentine Day beauty pageant  is also used to raise  funds for charity.  The winners are expected to take part in community projects.  During her reign, the former Miss Valentine  Phodiso Letsholo,  donated food hampers and clothing to some needy families in Mogoditshane. 

The new queen,  Hirschfeld, has also pledged to embark on a similar cause.  However,  her priorities would be  helping the elderly.

One of the organisers of Miss Valentine Day pageant,  Zenzele Hirshchfeld, says they awarded Mackennie  the Miss Personality award after observing her character  over  a period of time. 

She said they monitor the behaviour of the participants as they rehearse for the grand finale.  

The Miss Personality award is bestowed by the organisers - and not by the judges. She described Mackennie as a warm-hearted  woman.    Zenzele said Mackennie  had all the attributes to become the Miss Personality as she had a good inter-personal relationship with the other participants.  'She was caring and punctual for the rehearsals as well,' she said.  

Zenzele says the Miss Valentine pageant  is all about women getting together and Mackennie  displayed such  a good spirit throughout. As for Mackennie, it is not over  yet  because she intends to have another shot at the ultimate prize next year.