Young Michelle Gaokgethelwe was this past Saturday night, August 5, crowned the 2017 Miss Botswana Consumer Fair. She beat 15 other beautiful young ladies during a glamorous event held Boipuso Hall. The pageant commenced with the 16 young ladies strutting their stuff to Beyonc├®’s ‘Crazy in Love’ rocking beautiful snow white halter dresses.
The girls took turns showing off their dance moves. The second round involved a three piece swimwear before wrapping up with beautiful evening gowns. The top five were selected by the panel of judges that included for Miss Botswana winners Sumaiyah Marope (2009) and Joyce Manase (1996).
Following the not so tough questions from the judges only Gaokgethelwe, Kutlo Marks, and Bonno Themba made it through. The three then had to pitch their business ideas to the judges before Gaokgethelwe was crowned the overall winner with Marks and Themba being first and second runner ups respectively. The new queen received her crown from Miss Botswana Consumer Fair 2016, One Mariri.
The pageant also included performances by Kast Stallion and Amantle Brown. But the organisers could have done way better as far as the pageant’s hosts were concerned. The two, Bafana ‘Ribcracker’ Letsatsi and Botlhe Kgosimore did not ‘crack’ any ribs at all despite countless attempts.
This was only the second instalment of the Miss Botswana Consumer Fair. “This pageant, which is not just any pageant, is a unique occasion for identifying and crowning the lady with a unique combination of beauty, elegance and entrepreneurial mindset, with a great potential to be a leading business woman in Botswana,” Fairground Holdings Chief Executive Officer Myra Sekgororoane said while officially opening the pageant.
She said the Miss Botswana Consumer Fair is premised on identifying youthful Batswana women who come up with a product or business concept that they wish to turn into a viable business project. “It is important that we remind and reiterate the specific objectives of the pageant which include giving young and upcoming women entrepreneurs an opportunity to grow their business ideas and realize their dreams as well as creating a platform for them to interact with a wider business community,” Sekgororoane said. The pageant, the CEO said, also presents an opportunity for young women to express their natural beauty through elegance and style, and to build their self-esteem through assertiveness and public speaking. She said scouting for the contestants was spread across the whole of Botswana with auditions conducted in Gaborone, Francistown, Palapye, Maun, and Lobatse. The contestants have since being selected, gone through various levels of training in business. The newly crowned queen won 50,000 worth of prizes including P25, 000 in cash.
