The 20-year-old is currently studying Criminal Justice at the University of Botswana. Gulubane explained to Arts&Culture that winning Miss Independence Botswana signifies a milestone in her personal growth and national pride. “It represents not just beauty but resilience, leadership, and a commitment to uplifting others. This title is a platform to inspire young women to embrace their potential and a chance to advocate for issues close to their hearts. It is an opportunity to be a voice for change, championing independence, culture, and unity. Growing up in Mahalapye, a village rich in tradition and community, inspired me to embrace the importance of representation. Joining Miss Independence Botswana was my way of showing that no matter where you come from, whether a small village or a big city, your voice matters,” she said. She further added that she wanted to represent the strength, beauty, and resilience of rural communities like herself. She said it was important for young girls in places like Mahalapye to see that their dreams are valid and achievable, also saying she wanted to be a living example of that.
Furthermore, she pointed out that was not her first pageant as she was also the current Miss University of Botswana 2024 as well. Previously, she said she joined pageants like Miss Mahalapye, Miss Teen Africa Botswana and Junior Miss Botswana. This beauty with brains also said she felt confident and ready for the international competition. She pointed out that winning the Miss Independence Botswana strengthened her sense of purpose and gave her the experience she needed to compete on a larger stage. Gulubane also said she has been working hard on improving her skills, from public speaking to self-presentation, and deepening her understanding of the issues she wanted to advocate for. She added that she was excited to represent Botswana and showcase its culture and values to the world. Even though she said it was a big challenge, she stated that she is prepared to give it her best and make her country proud.
For her part, the pageantry director, Gaonyafelwe Phuti, stated that the Miss Independence Botswana beauty pageant was formed in 2017 and had so far produced eight queens since the origin of the pageant. She said they sent most of their queens to compete at international stages, adding that it sets as a driving force to improve their brands, bringing exposure and publicity. She added that with that, it was easy for them to participate in other pageants as a whole brand. She added that the pageantry celebrated culture and diversity. “This year we crowned Miss Independence Botswana‘s runner-ups with the following titles Miss Africa Botswana (first runner up Trish Molemoeng), Miss Tourism Botswana (second runner up Tumisang Leteane) and Miss Globe Botswana (third runner up Same Sepako). With that Gulubane will soon represent our beautiful Botswana. We ask for support from all stakeholders to help us as we embark on this journey,” Phuti said.
