The end of Miss Botswana 2007/8 drama?

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Tuesday November 27, 2007 00:00

 

The 18-year-old University of Botswana (UB) political science student beat 1 others to the throne in a lukewarm grand finale held at the Gaborone Sun on Sunday.

The pageant, which is always dogged by controversy, was disrupted by rain and the disappearance of Michelle Kgwarapi's gown on November 16.

Kgwarapi's dress was eventually found hidden under a bed in a hotel room and the contest was rescheduled to Sunday, with the following 11 beauties qualifying for the question-and-answer stage. They were Michele Kgwarapi, Atamelang Tshireletso, Kelebogile Sento, Refilwe Kgabo, Koketso Moremi, Natasha Toise, Elsa Kaasnielsen, Seeletso Mmolawa, Itseng Kgomotso, Prudence Pheko, and Boitumelo Gaotshabege.

Organisers had earlier explained that because of the controversy surrounding the November 16 event, there would be top 11 instead of top 10, as is in the normal practice. This meant that Kgwarapi was allowed to sail through and become part of the top 11. From the onset, it was clear that the girls were not prepared for this stage of the competition because the majority struggled to answer simple questions.  In fact some of the girls were hardly audible although there was a microphone in front of them. Kgwarapi disappointed her many fans by failing to answer the question posed to her. Although, the directors of the ceremony tried to put her at ease by allowing her to regain her composure, the girl gave a weak answer, to the dismay of everyone. Sento also failed to impress because she just mumbled her answer and many strained their ears trying to hear what she was saying.

The axe fell on some of the beauties however Koketso Moremi, Atamelang Tshireletso, Refilwe Kgabo, Seeletso Mmolawa, Itseng Kgomotso and Prudence Pheko were lucky to make it to the top six. By then, it was clear that Kgomotso was a cut above the rest as she confidently answered the question that was posed to all the finalists. The question was: Botswana is often called Africa's diamond, why? Most of the girls took the question literally and rambled about physical diamonds. However, Kgomotso gave an excellent answer and talked of the things like good governance, economy and democracy prevailing in Botswana.

Prudence Pheko, Itseng Kgomotso and Refilwe Kgabo survived the axe making it to the top three. One of the judges, Nathaniel Tlhalerwa asked the three finalists. 'Seeing that Botswana is strategically placed for soccer World Cup, what do you think we should do to benefit as a country?'

Refilwe Kgabo's fumbled on her answer and that must have made her lose some points because she emerged the second princess. With Kgomotso and Pheko remaining, the clear favourite was the former who had given a good answer to the same question. As expected, Kgomotso clinched the crown.

Since Malebogo Marumoagae was not in Botswana, one of her runners-up, Pearl Moilwa crowned the new queen. Kgomotso was given a diamond necklace worth P42,000 courtesy of the main sponsor, Motiganz Diamond Group.

In another development, a group calling itself 'Concerned Miss Botswana Finalists' faxed a letter to Mmegi just before the grand finale, raising a number of concerns. Among their concerns was what they dubbed 'the crowning rumours'. The letter, which Mmegi received on November 24 (a day before the grand finale) read in part, 'about 2 (two) weeks prior to the event, we heard rumours that Itseng Kgomotso is the queen, which was not a surprise to us because on the day of the semi-finals, we were practising at Fashion Lounge in the afternoon. Kgomotso could not take the pressure, she cried and packed her bags and she was dragged back by the director, Daisy Botsoba.

Contrary to this, when other girls quit, they were not dragged back but left to leave which is why there were 27 and not 30 at the semi-finals.' The Miss Botswana Assistant Director Neo Selwe dismissed 'the crowning rumours' saying that they were pure fabrication. 'We have also heard those rumours but there was no how we could stop Kgomotso from taking part because she, like everybody else, needed to prove her worth,' said Selwe.

She went on to say that there is no doubt that Kgomotso excelled at the grand finale and that if anyone had doubts, he or she will have to wait for the Miss Botswana broadcast on Botswana Television (Btv).

Selwe added that the 'Concerned Miss Botswana Finalists' were a bitter lot who were unhappy that they lost the race for the crown. She also said that like other queens before her, Kgomotso deserved a peaceful reign.