12 Jun 2018

Some young girls aspire to be models when they grow up. Their journey to the top often starts with some practice in front of the mirror mimicking models strutting on catwalks on television.

The same can be said about Letlhakane-born Kaelo Makgobo who is currently pursuing her modelling career in Johannesburg.

Signed Boss Models, Makgobo’s most recent work includes being featured in the March 2018 issue of Bona Magazine and participating in Soweto Fashion Week.

Makgobo, who grew up in a large family, says she has always been the entertainer amongst her five siblings, imitating what she saw on television be it singing, dancing or pageants.

Through encouragement of her sister, she started participating in pageants during her primary school years.

She recalls her first experience on the stage participating in the Miss Boteti House Primary at the age of eleven.

“Although I did not win, I consider it to be the most exciting experience ever,” she says.

After taking a break from all extra-curricular activities to focus on her studies, she says made a comeback in 2009 by pariticipating in the Germstones Season 1.

She says even though she did not walk home with the title, the competition sharpened her skills and confidence.

“At university I took part in a series of pageants as a way of making extra money including Miss Tshwaraganang, Miss University of Botswana, Miss Festive, Miss Intervarsity Games (Swaziland), Miss Africa and I was a 1st runner up in two of the pageants,” she said.

The experience gained from the competitions she participated in eventually paid off for Makgobo who in 2016 snatched the best female model award during the President’s Day Competitions.

Her portfolio also boasts a number of local fashion shows including Afro Lize Me, Color in The Desert Fashion Week, Lansmore, Masa the Wedding Expo and Independence Fashion Show.

Makgobo credits the competitions for having given her the privilege of working with very experienced professionals in the fashion industry such as Lesedi Matlapeng, Thula Sindi, Delayna Scott and Sun Goddess.

“I have done some promotional work with some establishments such as BTC on one of their recent TV commercials.

It is one of my most cherished works thus far. Having pursued what makes me happy is an achievement as it is,” she says.

She also remembers the highlights of her journey in the modelling industry when she paraded in the Miss Africa Finale with a fractured knee and arm following fears that she might pullout of the competition.

Kaelo is a UB graduate with a BA in Media Studies. She also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Education specialising in English and she is a part time tutor.

 She says her inspiration comes from her failures describing them as lessons learnt which makes her aspire to be great despite having fallen.

She cautions that modelling is not an easy way to make quick cash. “Just like any field of work, it requires discipline, patience and hard work.” ENDS