“We purposely decided to celebrate this price giving which started three years ago.
The inception of Miss Millennium started in 2008. We decided to host this price giving in April to celebrate the month of women hence our decision to have this prize giving celebration a month after the Miss Millennium grand finale,” said said the event coordinator Zenzel Hirschfield who is also the director of Zen Promotions. Furthermore, she said they used to have a beauty pageant and then give them their prizes on stage.
That is when they realised that even though they celebrate women, they never do anything during the International Women’s Month.
Therefore, through this pageantry, they plan to celebrate contestants and also Mogoditshane women. "We want to celebrate this community because we want to celebrate those who excel in building their communities,” she said. Hirschfield added that they will continue celebrating and empowering Mogoditshane women and beyond.
She said she was happy that the prizes they gifted the contestants were 90% donated by women in support of fellow women. She thanked all women who tirelessly work hard to support other women despite their hectic schedules. She further encouraged women to penetrate male dominated industries because she believed they are equally able.
For his part, the Minister of Youth, Gender, Sport and Culture, Tumiso Rakgare said he knew and appreciated the importance of women in life. He explained that being raised by a single mother, he would always appreciate his mother and all women for the sacrifices they do for their children and the community at large. He added that women should be taken care of and empowered. Rakgare further called for action against GBV. He further applauded the Miss Millennium organisers for hosting a pageantry of such magnitude that intends on changing the lives of women in Mogoditshane. Rakgare called on the organisers to also include young girls by empowering them with life skills.
He challenged men to take part in supporting women and the girl-child to change their lives for the better. All the contestants received prizes. Those who did not make it to the top three won a hamper from Spar Botswana, earrings and a brooch each from Perfect Piece by Sammy Matlhagela, Benini mechandise while first and second princes got the same prizes in addition of firewood and chopping board from Mophane Wa Mokomoto and a P9,000 worth voucher from Ikage Motswana plus free meals and drinks at Millennium Jazz Restaurant and Zen Promotions for a certain period.
The queen walked away with all those and toiletries with make-up from Fine Pharmaceutical. All contestants also got t-shirts from Kearoma Rantao’s Cheri clothing line. She gifted the queen and her princesses with clothing vouchers where they are allowed to buy any clothes of their choice depending on the amount of their voucher.
