28 Aug 2018

Mahalapye Sub-district Miss RADP 2018 winner, Lebogang Maitshoko, 21, will participate at the annual Masa Square Hotel Fashion Show slated for October 20.

The participation comes with two nights accommodation for two.

The beauty pageant themed: Unearthing natural beauty and talent, featured 12 young ladies from the three remote areas in the sub-district being Moralane, Mokgenene and Otse.

Officiating at the fifth Miss RADP pageant in Mahalapye on Friday, Masa Square Hotel sales and marketing manager, Neo Nkele said they were doing so to appreciate and promote platforms aimed at uplifting the youth and engaging them in positive activities.

“Our fashion show and mentorship programme has been proactive in nurturing our nation’s young talents. It has been a great privilege to provide a platform for bright minds from the fashion and textile industry,” stated Nkele Nkele. She said since inception, the mentorship programme had provided the youth with the necessary exposure to the fashion industry in Botswana.

Nkele applauded the voluntary and mandatory efforts of both government and private entities in combating discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in education and employment for all.

She appealed to the business community in the sub-district and individuals to join hands and support the sub council grow the pageant.

“Masa Square Hotel has been in the forefront in creating initiatives to engage industry leaders and promote a platform for the generation of new knowledge in the creative industry, where generating new insights and introducing new concepts are concerned,” said Nkele.

Prior to the competition, participants engaged in a two-week boot camp to polish their ramp skills and also trained in different areas to empower them.

The night saw the beautiful and confident young women parading in different attire with the better part of the pageant focusing on addressing the aspect of beauty with brains by staging ways of promoting and preserving culture.

The pageant also focused on positive character building.
Maitshoko of Mokgenene proved to be the fairest of the them all while Kutlwano Motebele, 20, of Moralane was crowned first princess while Segomotso Gabotshegelwe, 21, of Otse came second.

In an interview, Maitshoko said her win was an lifetime opportunity and hoped to achieve her project that would help assist her community. “My dream is to start a poultry project at Mokgenene. I want to be at the forefront in turning around the fortunes of the community by assisting the youth realise their potential,” she said.

“My journey in Miss RADP started in 2017 when I finished third at settlement level but failed to impress at sub district level. I tried my luck again this year and won,” she said. Maitshoko said the crown was not only symbolic of her beauty and presentation during the competition, but also a platform that must be used to present and advocate for positive change in the community. “It means a lot to me. As a beauty queen I must not associate with negative behaviour, but must be a change agent and advocate for positive behaviour. I must lead by example,” said.
 

Maitshoko’s dream is to improve her Form 5 results and pursue a career in social work. “I am compassionate and with training I can assist my community,” she said. ENDS