30 Aug 2018

The annual Miss Independence Kgatleng, which is on its fourth year, is billed for the 15th of September at Ledingwana Guest House in Malotwane.

Speaking in an interview, the director of Miss Independence Kgatleng, Lebopo Bulayani said the pageant has grown from its humble beginnings to where it was today.

She said the support of Batswana and other stakeholders in the growth of the event has been phenomenal.

Bulayani said the pageant would this year focus on the girl child and women as the country has been grappling with the issue of many lives lost in love relationships.

She said the theme for this year: Save me, I am a girl child, no me, no life, focused on bringing awareness to the boy child, men and all perpetrators to make wise decisions when it came to relationships.

Bulayani said 2017 was a successful year as the pageant received international recognition when she was chosen to attend the African Leadership Initiative programme due to the impact the pageant had on the community as well as the upbringing of the girl child.

She said she was also selected to attend the Mandela Institute for Development Studies in South Africa with focus on governance issues relating to the girl child.

The director further said the organisation has been doing well locally as per the roles played by the reigning queens.

She revealed that they managed to donate to Motswedi Rehabilitation Centre, and to continue their mentorship programme at nursery and primary schools.

Bulayani said for their brand to grow, they needed to partner with other stakeholders in the industry in order to drive their mandate and make a greater impact.

She said they have received accolades from Namibia with some people expressing the desire to partner with them to run a similar pageant in that country.

The director said even though they started with focus on Kgatleng, people now wanted the pageant to be rolled out to other parts the country, adding however, that the strategy needed to be carried out appropriately.

Bulayani said due to the demand from other young women to participate in the pageant, they have changed the participation age to 16-30 years from 18-25 years.

She said the 12 participants would be going for a boot camp on the 1st of September where they would compete on cultural activities such as cooking cultural meals, cow and goat milking among others. She also added that they have the support of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development in Kgatleng.

She said Miss Independence Kgatleng 2018 is sponsored by 3D Entertainment, Club View Tours, Neelo Fitness, Ledingwana Guest House, Is-Sion, Clicks Pharmacy and that they anticipate to have more sponsors on board.

Bulayani said this year’s performers would include the award winning Amantle Brown and Mlesho as well as supporting artists from Kgatleng in the likes of Excel Jaivas, Miss Cutty Gee and Polka Dynamites.

The reigning queen, Luthando Ratau said it has been an awesome journey and that she does not feel ready to hand over the grown.

She said the pageant has taught her many things that were valuable to the girl child and women at large.

She said her project included working with the less privileged and orphans, mentorship and counselling to children at different schools.

Ratau said she was working with 15 pupils, not only to help them build their character and personality, but to also expose them to different career opportunities.ENDS