It was not an easy road for the young beauty who says despite her appeals to different government departments for help, ahead of the competition, she was largely ignored. The beauty queen is unhappy that the Department of Youth, Sports and Culture and the Tourism Board dismissed her appeal for help, citing late coming on her part.
"They both said I should have approached them three months in advance yet I got the invitation a month before the actual event. Does that really make sense?" she said.
Despite all the challenges, the formidable young woman went on to impress both the judges and the audience at the international pageant. In fact, The Gleaner, a Jamaican newspaper of June 5, 2007 said of her, "Miss Botswana, who most thought would win came in second and Miss Zimbabwe emerged the winner."
According to Barbara Hasseriis, Tjiriange's chaperone, the event, which was held at Pegasus Hotel, Kingston hotel, attracted 15 international contestants. Vehae was chosen as one of the top eight at the pre-selection stage and she battled for the crown with other girls at the final event. For the first parade, she wore a swimsuit in national colours designed by none other than Hasseriis her chaperone. The main dress for the event and the dinner dresses were designed by Lesedi Matlapeng.
As part of the talent show, the beauty queen performed a solo play in two minutes about a mother-in-law welcoming a new bride home and showing her domestic responsibilities. The well-known artiste, Gaolape Basuhi, produced the play.
"The people loved the drama and were most impressed by my ululating and some came up to me and asked me how I produced the beautiful sound," Tjiriange remembered laughingly.
After the talent show, the top five being Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Miss Nicaragua, Miss Jamaica, Miss Zimbabwe and Miss Botswana were chosen.
"At that point, I was confident that I would be among the top five because I heard positive comments from the judges and the audience also reacted positively," Vehae said.
When time for questioning arrive, the Botswana beauty queen was asked, if people were going to remember one thing about her what would it be? She answered: "They will remember me as a woman of absolute simplicity because one of the attributes I hold close to my heart is humility which I think most people should have."
According to Tjiriange's elder sister, Himuee Kaazumikua, who accompanied her to Jamaica, the crowd just fell in love with her answer and applauded from all corners of the hall. Then the moment of reckoning arrived and, according to Kaazumikua, you could 'hear a pin drop'. By then it was clear that the crowd wanted Tjiriange to be the queen of the night.
But when the judges announced that the youthful beauty was the first princess, most people could not believe it.
"Although I was a bit disappointed, I quickly composed myself and embraced Miss Zimbabwe as the queen. Cynthia had been my room-mate and we were on friendly terms; so it was easy for me to accept her," admitted Tjiriange.
Tjiriange said despite the lack of support from government she would continue to serve the nation by working on some projects with different non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Botswana. Although the beauty queen claims she does not hold any grudges, she next on to say that hopefully government would learn its lessons and appreciate people before they bring home some crowns. She also said that she is willing to serve government in any capacity as long as she is invited to do so.
