While Miss World Botswana’s Thata Kenosi smiled all the way to the bank after receiving her P300,000 first prize, Miss Global International Botswana 2016 Olerato Moalosi is already ruing the day she signed up for the pageant barely a month following her crowning.
Moalosi was crowned Miss Global International Botswana at a pageant held at Fairgrounds Holdings in September. The beauty queen now has nothing to show for her victory save for her tiara and sash.
“We were never even told by the organisers what prizes we stood to win,” she told Arts & Society.
She said the contract they signed was merely on how they were expected to conduct themselves post the pageant .Nothing binding to the organisers and license holders, Osego Maseko and Mercy Sefako.
Just when she thought things could not get any worse, Moalosi said the organisers dropped another bomb on her.
“They told me I would have to pay my way to the Miss Global International pageant in the Dominican Republic later this month,” said the Queen, who was accompanied her parents for support.
She said she now had to source for funds to finance her trip to the Caribbean. Moalosi’s First Princes, who asked for her identity not to be disclosed, corroborated her story. She said they never knew what they stood to win at the local pageant. “When we asked about prizes the organisers said they were still waiting for funds from sponsors.
One of the organisers, Osego Maseko, confirmed to Arts & Society they had yet to reward all the 12 finalists with their respective prizes. The ladies and those who did not make the final cut had paid P200 registration fees.
“We didn’t have sponsors at the pageant,” Maseko said. “Most of our sponsors dropped us at the 11th hour but since we had already secured the venue and spent money we decided to go ahead with the pageant anyway.” He said they made it clear to the contestants that they had no sponsors for prizes.
Although he admitted they had asked Moalosi to source for her own funds for the trip to the Dominican Republic Maseko said they intended to assist where they can to insure she makes the trip.
But he said he could not guarantee the Queen would make the trip. Although their actions may tarnish the name of the international pageant Maseko insists they are not to blame for what has transpired. “We did the best we could to ensure a successful event.”
Pageant lovers thronged the Pavilion last month to witness the grand finale of the Miss Global International Botswana. The event culminated in Moalosi being crowned Miss Global International Botswana 2016, beating11 other beauties to the crown. Boitumelo Marera was second Princess. Moalosi was set to join 50 other contestants from all over the world for the 2016 Miss Global International competition which will be held later this month at the Dominican Republic. Miss Global International has been held for the past 12 years and consists of both commonwealth and non-commonwealth nations. The purpose of Miss Global organisation is to equip young ladies with leadership skills.
