22 Nov 2018

Young females aged between 15 and 25 years are expected to battle it out in the eighth edition of the Queen Esther International Beauty pageant in Maun on Saturday.

In an interview, the founder of the initiative, Vehae Tjiriange said the pageant aims to empower young girls.

She said this year’s participants were expected to run projects aimed at promoting abstinence among their peers in their respective schools.

The theme for this year is ‘#stop teenage pregnancy’.

She added that the pageant was different from some of the pageants as its aim was to have a beauty queen, who exhibited Christian values and someone who led by example.

“Queen Esther International Beauty Pageant is unique in the sense that contestants would not wear swimsuits or clothes that are too revealing.

The pageant is a celebration and the ultimate expression of true beauty, intelligence and integrity,” she said.

Also, she said through the pageant, she wanted to provide a platform for born-again Christian young women to showcase their beauty upholding godly values.

She explained that the pageant was initiated based on the book of Esther in the Bible, where Esther crowned was the Queen.  

Tjiriange said Esther’s story was a source of inspiration for the initiative.  

Since its inception in 2010, about seven young women had been crowned. The organiser also revealed that this year’s queen, would win a scholarship to study at Delta Waters English Medium School for three years.

Queen Esther International Beauty pageant was launched in September 2010 in Gaborone.

The first winner of the pageant,  Michel Marumo, according to Tjiriange, had managed to reach out to other young people across the country.

Tjiriange stated that Marumo did well during her reign adding that she also excelled in her studies and won a United Nations Scholarship.

Currently, she is studying as a neurologist medical doctor in the United States.

Another queen, she mentioned is Lesego Chombo, who also won a scholarship to study at Okavango International English Medium School where she did well in her studies.

Tjiriange stated that most of their previous contestants were excelling in life.

Already, she said four of them had been awarded scholarships to study at TSL Business Academy and Mighty Skills College respectively. ENDS