The pageant founder and director, Kgalalelo Lesetedi and her team, said the idea is to give themselves time to accommodate all the activities within the schedule. In an interview with Showtime, Lesetedi said the pageantry continues to grow as they have more activities in between and before the finale, which will be held in June this year.
Lesetedi also said auditions will commence in February with other activities also planned to take place during the same month starting on Valentines’ Day. “So far we have called for entries for this year’s season, which will be our eighth edition. Our auditions will be held on February 3, 2024 at Travel Lodge.
This year’s pageantry will be different because the brand is growing. We have new sponsors, more women coming forth and we have different stories to tell and we impact life differently. Our brand is focused on building happy healthy marriages and families. We fight against gender-based violence (GBV).
We are focusing on touching more lives,” she explained. Lesetedi also explained that the pageantry is aimed at helping build the nation that builds a happy Botswana through marriages and families. She added that at MRS Botswana, they encourage parents to groom their children into responsible citizens among other things they do. She added that this is because for children to become respectful, loving and kind, they learn from their parents. She added that such children could extend that love and respect they see at home to their peers.
Furthermore, Lesetedi explained that when they started, it was hard to get sponsorships but as years went by, companies started opening doors to them. She added that they also do exceptionally well at international pageantry competitions. She, however, explained that even though they managed to pull a few sponsors, it is not enough as pageants do not make enough returns through selling tickets.
As such, she pleaded for more assistance from members of the public.
For her part, the reigning queen, Portiah Mokgathong, said after being crowned queen, she continued to provide solutions and empowerment to the underprivileged in rural areas. She stated that she offers education and support on entrepreneurship to such people as a way to sustain their families’ livelihood. Furthermore, she said they collaborated with organisations such as the Botswana Police Service (Gender Based violence and Child Protection Division), Society of Road Safety Ambassadors, Men and Boys for Gender Equality, different schools, the Botswana Defence Force, NAHPA, the Chinese Embassy to avail services to people who are affected by GBV while also addressing child protection issues. “The Mrs Botswana platform has enabled me to get a lot of personal development along with my family. The activities that we do together offer us space and time to bond.
There has been a lot of networking opportunities that enable my legacy project Anaya-Tlhwatlhwa to run more efficiently. As a leader and public figure, I am expected to embody warmth, care and responsibility and effortlessly symbolise womanhood, uplift social causes and be a strong voice of the unheard.
It is overwhelming sometimes especially because I also have to continue being a great wife, mom and businessperson,” she said. Moreover, she pointed out that she participated in Mrs Universe 2023 finale that was hosted at Philippines, Manila and Botswana scooped Mrs Top Africa, Mrs Universe Top 25, The Best Native National Costume and First Runner Up overall national costume awards.
