Then and now: Miss Botswana 1966 reflects on Botswana’s journey at 60

For her, pageantry, let alone being crowned Miss Botswana, was a far-fetched dream. At the time, she was an assistant teacher who knew nothing about modelling or the world of beauty contests.“One of my former teachers suggested that I participate in the Miss Ramotswa pageant, and I agreed. I had never practised for pageantry before then, and so it was a new thing for me at the time,” she shared.

Rantao-Ogle said she arrived at the Miss Ramotswa pageant with no fancy wardrobe or professional support, only confidence and the courage to try something unfamiliar. She wore a pink dress she bought at a garage sale and a necklace she borrowed from a friend, an outfit that would become part of her remarkable story.