Miss RADP 2015 scheduled for this weekend

Assistant minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Botlogile Tshireletso, said Tuesday that it was necessary for the ministry to postpone the event out of heartfelt respect, sympathy and support for all people who were involved. “Miss RADP beauty pageant is a gender empowerment initiative done under the auspices of the affirmative action framework for remote area communities that was approved by cabinet in July 2014,” she said during a media briefing on Tuesday. Tshireletso said the aim of the pageant was to facilitate talent identification, encourage behavioural change among the youth and promote inclusiveness of the young women in the mainstream society.

“We want to build their self-esteem through participation in national events amongst others,” she said. She said the theme ‘unearthing natural beauty and talent’ is in recognition of the fact that the pageant valued the diversity and uniqueness of the culture and natural beauty that was found among young talented women from remote area communities. The expectation is for each reigning beauty queen and her princesses to be ambassadors of the RADP by way of participation in community and outreach programmes.