Tumelo outshines young queens
Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Sunday April 16, 2023 06:00
Tumelo, who is the daughter to Member of Parliament for Francistown South, Wynter Mmolotsi also won Miss Popularity award during the pageantry. Together with three beautiful young girls who represented Botswana at the pageantry, they beautifully flew the country's flag high as they came back home victorious. Even though some did not scoop any crowns, they grabbed themselves some awards. Quindelyne Motshabi won second runner-up Toto Miss Africa while Miss Teen Botswana Jessica Jack clinched Miss Congeniality. Queen Arefa, who competed in the Mini category, won the Tourism award.
In an interview with 12-year-old Tumelo who will be writing her Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) this year, she said she joined the little Queen Botswana pageant last year after learning about it on their Facebook page and was inspired by the then reigning Queen Jack. “When I won the international title, I felt very excited to have won my very first pageant. When they called my name my heart skipped a bit and I was really happy. I was competing in the little category, as I was 11-years-old at the time. I prepared for the international stage by spending sleepless nights preparing my speeches and every Saturday I would visit my dance coach Aquino Mzila who was assisted by Carrietta Mogotsi and Refilwe Makwape to perfect my talent presentation,” she said. Tumelo said the competition was very tight as everyone aimed for the crown.
She said her coach made sure that in the short time they had with him they felt welcome in his palace. “At Little Mister and Miss Africa I won the title ‘Little Miss Africa 2023. I felt very thankful and excited to finally bring an international crown to my country. Now that I have scooped this position, I would like to extend both Tumelo Cares Club and Tumelo Nurturing Talents to greater heights. I would love to spread these projects around Africa instead of Botswana only.” She explained that Tumelo Cares Club will now work on climate change issues. As such she would like to start a one child one tree initiative where every child will plant a tree to improve the micro climate of their country. She said she would also embark on nurturing young talent to assist them eke a living out of their talents.
She extended her gratitude towards those that have supported her throughout this process. Those include her mother Mmapula Mmolotsi, another mother Antoinette Kula, Tuincy at BushT Fashions in Francistown who designed most of her clothes and costumes that she was wearing at the international competition, her aunt Judith Ntelecha who sponsored her trip and clothes and her father Wynter who she regards as a Super dad for his emotional and financial support throughout this journey. For her part, six-year-old Motshabi who is a standard two pupil at St Theresa Primary School in Lobatse, said she was the first Princess Little Queen Botswana and that was how she joined Mister and Miss Africa. She boasts of having been crowned Little Queen Botswana first Princess and Mini Miss Petite Botswana where was crowned the ‘Queen.’ “Preparing for an international pageant was very hectic because I was writing exams too but thanks to my mother who is my personal manager and Gao Phuti, our national director for being there for me. The competition was very tight because everyone came prepared. I learned a lot from other girls and their culture. I made lots of friends during the friendship party. I met Terry Kay from Nigeria. She even bought me a present. Every morning at 6am we would go to the gym and production rehearsals. We went to greet the king and had fun at Carnival City Casino,” she said.
She said she was able to scoop the second princess title and also won The Best in Talent title. However, she pointed out that she was shocked when she got second runner-up title, as she really wanted to win. However, she said she was sure she would walk away with The Best Talent title. “I currently have a project called Miss Pre and Primary School Botswana where we unleash talent but for now I want to focus on my talent as a poet and a model. I am available for any invitations to show the world my talent. I will never stop competing because I feel so good while on stage. My father Gilbert Motshabi and my mother helped me financially. I thank Lebogang Matheakgomo for checking on me throughout the preparations, my grandmother Kefilwe Motlogelwe and my teacher Neo Godisameng for being my traditional dance choreographer every day after school,” she ended.