28 May 2018

Ditsame Bannalotlhe, 25, was on May 25 crowned Miss Beauty with Albinism Botswana at a first ever pageant held in the country.

The pageant tagged Beauty that Closes the Stigma Gap, is the sixth to be held in a continent where Albinos live in fear of being kidnapped, raped and killed for their body parts.

Miss Beauty with Albinism Botswana seeks to raise awareness about the plight of people living with albinism.

Pageant director, Philadelphia Motladiile said the event was organised to destroy the stigma and myths held by society about people living with albinism.

Motladiile was of the view that many did not believe that people living with albinism had a disability, they did not know that they had a problem with their eyesight which made it difficult for them to pursue their academia if not catered for.

She said society needed a paradigm shift in behaviour, noting that they wanted to use beauty and creativity to uphold the dignity of people living with albinism.

Motlaadiile pleaded with government not to ignore people living with the disability and give them employment.

The competition, which featured eight girls living with albinism, was no different from mainstream pageants and the judges said they looked at posture, explored building the confidence and self esteem.

The girls had an opportunity to celebrate themselves during a boot camp. Coordinator of the pageant, Lizzy Maila said “we used those standards because the girls are normal just like us. You can see that in the way they answer questions.”

Speaker of the National Assembly, Gladys Kokorwe, who graced the event, said public awareness on people living with albinism should be done so that they were integrated into society and given a fair chance to achieve their dreams.

She assured that in the winter session of Parliament, the Assembly would review the National Policy on Care for People with Disabilities.

She envisaged that the policy would facilitate effective service delivery to people living with disability including people living with albinism.

An elated Bannalotlhe said she was ready to start activism for people living with albinism and pleaded that people should “stop persecuting people living with albinism.”

Bannalotlhe, a Gaborone University College graduate, walked away with a mini Apple Ipad, a bursary for a certificate course at Gaborone University College and a night and breakfast for two at Nicopolis Self catering

Flats, while her first princess, Lizzy Dichauto got an iPod and a bursary for certificate course and second princess, Keone Thupane got a blue tooth speaker, a bursary for a certificate course at Gaborone University College.

Miss Albinism Zimbabwe pageant organiser, Brenda Mudzimu also graced the event. ENDS