Her name is Tshireletso Moatlhodi, the girl who won the Miss Independence beauty pageant in Francistown over the weekend. Chatting with Tshireletso, one quickly recognises that this one is certainly a people's queen whose beauty is from the inside out. Her genuine smile quickly shows that it is by no mistake she won numerous beauty contests, I mean a killer smile. Tshireletso emerged victorious from 12 beauty queens bidding for this year's Miss Independence crown. She won with 32 points, followed by the first princess, Masego Chengeta with 29 points and the second princess, Kefilwe Mwirima with 24 points. "Beauty pageants have always been part of my life, I first won my Miss Sedumedi when I was doing Standard Six, followed by Miss Setlalekgosi and Miss Little Francistown," she says with a trace of nostalgia. As she walks on stage, one can easily see that this woman is really in tip-top shape. "I guess what makes me stay in perfect shape is the fact that I avoid fatty foods and I also do a lot of exercise," she states.
This coffee coloured empress is the first born of three children and was raised by her grandmother in Francistown. A Christian by faith, her aim is to win the Miss World title. "I guess winning the Miss Independence puts me in a position to compete at international level, don't you think so?" she rhetorically asks. Hers is a combination of beauty with brains. "Why is it so important that you decided to participate in this year's Miss Independence beauty contest?" the lead judge, Masego Macheng, asked her the question that won her the title.
