Mmegi

Segaetsho wins international pageant

Hope Segaetsho
Hope Segaetsho

Twelve-year-old, Hope Segaetsho has made Botswana proud by being crowned Miss Pre-Teen Hope International 2025 in Cape Town

. After outshining queens from across the globe, Segaetsho’s victory is a testament to her resilience, hard work, and unwavering support from her family and Batswana. Reflecting on the moment her name was announced as the winner, Segaetsho expressed overwhelming joy. "The joy in my heart was exceedingly too much, it felt like a dream. Competing with queens from different continents and being crowned was only a wish, but now it’s a reality. The journey was not easy, but through God’s guidance, the support from my family and Batswana and perseverance, I made it," she said. Segaetsho’s journey in pageantry began at the age of five when she was crowned Miss Area W First Princess, an achievement that fuelled her ambition. Inspired by role models such as Lesego Chombo, who is both a queen and a government minister, Segaetsho sees her title as more than just an accolade. "Being an international title holder means I am not only a queen in Botswana but also in other countries. It’s a platform to be a voice for the voiceless and to champion the cause of the less privileged," she explained.

Her preparation for the competition involved rigorous training with the Hope Pageants Botswana team every weekend. "I want to publicly appreciate them for their time and skills in shaping me for a win. My mother, who is also my manager, played a huge role, sacrificing her time and resources. She was my sole sponsor for transportation, feeding, accommodation, and wardrobe," Segaetsho shared. She also expressed gratitude to her brothers, extended family, and Batswana, whose support on social media kept her motivated. She stated that the competition offered her memorable experiences, from delivering an award-winning project presentation to forging bonds with queens from different cultures. She recalled the excitement of showcasing her elegant traditional attire on stage, saying, "the spectators' cheers and clapping filled me with confidence." One of the challenges Segaetsho faced was twisting her ankle a day before the competition’s gala night. However, her resilience shone through as she decided to continue, saying: "I told myself I came to compete, and I will, against all odds."

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up