Balesamang juggles pageantry, farming

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday November 14, 2021 12:59

 

This beauty is the current Miss Earth Botswana 2021, a pageant that advocates environmental sustainability and conservation. In an interview with Arts & Culture, she said she believes her life paths have been carved out for her in the most extraordinary way.

Balesamang added that being a farmer prompts one to be sensitive about their actions and how they impact on the ground they farm on, even for years to come. She explained that she was honoured with Miss Earth Botswana title because of her project: Morui Ithute Initiative, which is a platform for smart agriculture learning and skills capacitation for farmers.

'I had previously won Best Project for the Initiative during the Miss Independence Botswana 2021 Pageant, where I was crowned first runner up. So, I wear the Miss Earth Botswana 2021 title as a result of being headhunted because of my environmental project and advocacy. Issues of environmental turmoil are really close to my heart, because in my profession, we are totally at the mercy of our environment. We rely on it for everything; water, soil, vegetation and a kind climate. So if the environment is sad, it means the worst for us. Winning the title means I am now a mouthpiece for all these issues and I can join other voices to raise the volume and shine light on proper ways of being at peace with our planet,' she boldly stated.

Balesamang added that she loves teaching, saying sharing information was one of the most powerful tools to create a positive ripple effect on whatever issue they want to relay. She also explained that her projects were centred on awareness, adding that because she deems herself as an environmentalist, her primary target was the marginalised communities that rely exclusively on the environment for survival.

Furthermore, this beauty with brains will be representing Botswana and competing against more than 80 queens from different countries across the globe. Each country sends a delegate to represent them at the International pageantry that is scheduled for November 21, 2021. However, this year, the competition took a virtual format and preliminary judging has already commenced to select the top 20 finalists, who will then proceed to compete in the finale night.

'I had to hit the ground running, a virtual setup is not at all easy but I fought to get Botswana her recognition. We have sent all the required documents and videos that are currently being judged. We have had interviews from which we were judged on intelligence and environmental awareness,' she said.