She is also the reigning Miss Teen Hope Queen and was bestowed the new title by Miss Hope Pageants director, Tlhatlogo Madiba who vowed that the Miss Hope Pageantry would continue supporting Katlego throughout her journey to the Brazil pageantry. “Miss Hope started in 2015 to date. We accommodate every child regardless of his or her body size or shape.
I believe in collaborations. I believe the crown is ours. We have hope in her. Katlego’s mother Lebogang Matheakgomo has always supported her and us. I have never seen a parent so supportive of her children’s dreams like her,” she said.
For her part, the reigning Miss Hope Botswana queen who also scooped the Miss Hope International first princess title Tshegofatso Kgabeng said at Miss Hope they honour sisterhood. She added that they also support each other.
Kgabeng also said she was confident that Katlego would win as they have hope in her representing the country very well in Brazil. Giving the new and first Miss Teen Global Beauty International Botswana words of wisdom, she told her that a lot happens at an international pageantry adding that a number of local queens had a tendency of copying other queens because of lack of self esteem.
She told her to remember where she comes from and who she is when she gets to Brazil. Kgabeng also advised Katlego to put all in God’s hands, shine her light and not copy other queens’ strategies so she brings the crown home.
Delivering her speech as a guest of honour, Keotshepile Motseonageng, affectionately known as Berry Heart, said arts and sports were currently contributors to the economy of many countries including Botswana. She added that Botswana last won an international pageantry through Mpule Kwelagobe and later Emma Wareus who scooped Miss World first princess title where the country took long to win international pageants. She said currently with the upcoming generation, it was evident that the country’s pageantry had elevated to higher heights. “I urge the nation to support this young queen. Supporting means sharing her posts and statuses so that the world knows about her.
Let’s rally behind our children. I am glad that our children are from a different generation. I grew up in a settlement but that did not discourage me.” “I worked hard, won awards.
I was the first person from my family to proceed to university. I became a millionaire at 24 years of age. Berry Heart Creations will sponsor your wardrobe. Any gown you want, the design even your swimwear, tell us so we do it for you. I see myself in you.
The world is a competition and I send you off to Brazil to win,” she said. According Sally Heath Mangiroza of TnT Artistic Movement, their children always win including Katlego who joined their artistic movement together with her sister who is also a known beauty queen, Kimberly Matheakgomo. She said she loved the two girls because they were givers and always wanted to give to others. She added that they always did a lot of introspective thinking and never wanted to stand out alone but want to grow with others.
The lady of the moment, Katlego thanked her grandmother and mother having held her hand during her journey in the pageant industry since she was as little as eight years of age to date. She thanked her different coaches who made her journey in the pageantry easy together with her sponsors. She added that it was not easy being a pageant queen saying it required one to be a beauty with brains.
She added that she would continue helping other girls achieve their dreams through her project. She further pleaded with individuals and companies to sponsor her and make her dream of being a beauty queen a reality through money and sponsorship in kind where they like and share her posts and pictures. A local young poet, Tonto also known as Kunkuru and Miss Eloquent Africa Botswana showered her with praise poems.
