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Jacob is new Miss Youth Empowerment queen

Neolin Jacob (middle) with Olebogeng Oagile and Thabiso Tabithiwa first and second princesses PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG.
Neolin Jacob (middle) with Olebogeng Oagile and Thabiso Tabithiwa first and second princesses PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG.

The Miss Youth Empowerment Botswana beauty pageant has crowned its very first queen, Neolin Jacob, who outshone fellow contestants on Saturday night at the University of Botswana.

She proved that she was not only a beautiful face but a beauty with brains.

The young woman gained her spotlight during the question and answers session. During the top seven questions, she was asked if she thought there was a difference in how young people of different genders or sexualities experience mental health issues.

Her answer was yes.

She supported the answer by saying she thought there was a difference in how people of different sexualities experience mental health issues especially people of different gender and sexual orientation since the society is against them unlike heterosexual persons who are considered normal. She said people of other sexualities experienced mental health differently because both the society, the Bible and government were against them.

She said that leaves them vulnerable as they have nowhere to turn to and nobody to talk and get the help they needed unlike a person considered of normal sexuality by the society. She came back fully prepared for the crown after being amongst the top three as she briefly and brilliantly answered the common question asked to the three women.

They were asked what role they thought technology played in improving mental health and what were the potential risks and drawbacks. Her answer was that the right way technology could improve mental health was through personalised Artificial Intelligence (AI). She, however, explained that the setback with AI was that people would stop socialising and depend more on it therefore affecting their social life. Meanwhile, Olebogeng Oagile and Thabiso Tabithiwa scooped the first and second princesses titles respectively.

Even though many thought Tabithiwa could have won the crown, she disappointed them after failing to answer the common question as she kept asking the judges to say it a few times before giving the answer. Oagile on the other hand also gave a good answer even though it was long.

For the special awards, Tabithiwa was the best in catwalk and earned herself Top Model Award. Jessica Okatswa scooped both the Best Dressed and Best Marketing awards, the new Miss Youth Empowerment Botswana queen on the other hand won the Best Project while Rose Ndjavera walked away with Miss Popularity award. The audience were treated to beautiful entertainment from poetry, music and beauty. Some of the local talents who made the evening thrilling include DJ Guyvos, Poetess Kethamile ft Mario OntheSax, Kopano Mudongo, TiiManey and Princess Motshwari.

Editor's Comment
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