Organisers keen on Miss Universe boot camp

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Tuesday June 28, 2011 00:00

Initially, the boot camp was planned for May, but had to be rescheduled to an unconfirmed date because of sponsors, the organisers said.  The camp is apparently meant to give the top 12 MUB finalists a feel of Botswana tourism.  The camp was initially supposed to be a week-long trip to allow the beauties to visit several tourist destinations in the North Western part of the country.

MUB assistant director, Kopano Seduke sad they are ready to go on with the boot camp any day, but they are still waiting for the go-ahead from sponsors.  She said at the moment they do not know when exactly they would get the green light, but they are determined to go on despite the delay.  'The camp was supposed to be a week-long affair, but if we get a late response from the sponsors we may have to shorten it,' she said.  Seduke emphasised that the camp is meant to give the finalists an idea of the beauty Botswana possesses.

She said this is in order to prepare them for the grand finale to be held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). 'The bigger picture, however, is to prepare the potential queen for the international pageant scheduled for Brazil on September 12,' she said.

Seduke said this is the other reason they postponed the pageant from July 2 to July 23.  She said they need enough time to nurture a proper ambassador for the country.  She said the other reason they postponed the event is because they do not want to clash with the Miss Botswana pageant finale on July 1 at the same venue.

Seduke urged Batswana to come in large numbers on July 23 to support the project.  She said the finale would offer cultural diversity, as eight ethnic groups' cultural attires would be on display.  She said the ethnic groups that would be represented include the Bayei, Bakalaka, Ba'Mbukushu, and the OtjiHerero.  'We have realised that a few cultures in Botswana are represented at beauty pageants and ours is a way of appreciating others,' she said.

Seduke urged people to support the winner event after her return from Brazil. Meanwhile, the top 12 contestants are busy preparing for the finale.  They are engaged in rehearsals and gym sessions on a daily basis to keep them in immaculate condition.  They held a public fashion show at the Riverwalk shopping mall a fortnight ago. 

The most notable however should be the time they were in Sun City, South Africa, where they had the opportunity to meet with Miss South Africa and the Royal Bafokeng queen mother, Semane Molotlegi.