07 Jun 2023

Miss Botswana queen Lesego Chombo’s preparations for the Miss World competition are taking  shape  as her team recently revealed 12 designers who have expressed interest in designing for the beauty queen.

Among the 12 designers are Lypo clothing, Seloba creations, Glitz fashion, Feura, Why Botswana, Trl Designs and Gigi Design.

In an interview the pageant’s public Relations Officer Tshepiso Solomon said this year’s pageant themed: Ke Wa Rona Rotlhe showed that they believed that every Motswana deserved to play a part and benefitted from the queen’s journey.

The pageant’s spokesperson said the team of designers was made of Botswana’s finest designers, such as Lucky Leepo of Lypo clothing, a fashion house that focuses on style and elegance.

“His brand lives to breathe the freshest ideas especially for wedding couture, pageantries as well as smart casual,” she said.

She said Oreneile Archie of Eve Textiles would be among the designers who would dress Chombo.

She said Thapelo Mokgethi of Seloba Creations would also be part of the team. Mokgethi’s work has been seen on the ramps and she became a household name in fashion circles after during showcasing at the 2017 and 2019 President’s competition regional fashion show.

She went on to show that she was a force to reckon with by scooping an award at the Botswana Youth Awards in 2021.

“In 2022 she showcased at the Gabs July fashion show and has also dressed Miss Botswana 2021 Palesa Molefe for her homecoming event,” she said.

Another Fashion Designer from Glitz fashion Thato Mminatau is ready unleash her potential through the queen’s wardrobe. 

Established in 2010, Glitz fashion designs is no novice in the industry and has always been at the forefront of Botswana’s fashion.

Glitz fashion has been a leading fashion house for office, cocktail, evening and casual wears among others. Florence Radisweng of Feura also boasts of international recognition in her fashion career and has won a two weeks networking opportunity at Chanel headquarters in Paris in 2016.

She has dressed Mrs World Africa 2022 contestants and her area of interest includes ready to wear, sports and casual among others.

Miss Botswana also will have Tirelo Sekgwama of TRL designs also designing for her.

TRL Designs specialises in various types of designs which include dinner dresses, coats, African attire, suits and wedding dresses.

Gigi Designs by Gontlenyane Kgosikoma also part of the team.  In her three years of operation she has worked with brides, bridal teams, pageantry queens including Chombo.

All the designers who have pledged to help Miss Botswana are experienced and have Qualifications in Fashion Design.

Solomon said a group of designers, apparel retailers, cobblers and Seamstresses pledged to partner with the Miss Botswana Organisation.

“The call out for designers was put out on March 2023 and closed early May, the aim is to ensure the inclusion of local Designers, dress makers, apparel retailers and others to be part of the Miss Botswana Wardrobe journey and benefit through the international platform provided by the Miss World Festival,” she said.

 “Chombo is adamant she will return with the Blue Crown this year, Winning Miss World is no easy feat and it will take the cooperation of the entire nation to ensure this dream comes into fruition for our Queen and ourselves as the nation rallying behind her,” she said.

She said Miss Botswana Organisation thanked everyone who had shown interest in assisting the queen to prepapre and looked forward to an exciting journey to the Miss World 2023.

Solomon said Miss World was yet to release information about the event’s host city and date urging pageantry lovers to check Miss World and Miss Botswana websites for that.  ENDS