Following the crowning of Botswana’s very own Jaydon Anderson as the fairest of them all at the Mr Africa International in 2013, this year’s competition will be held here in Gaborone come December 3rd. The competition, which sees at least 30 hunks from around Africa compete for the crown, will be on its fourth year after being launched for the first time in 2012.
“We would have loved to host it in 2014 following Anderson’s crowning but unfortunately we were not ready then,” said local pageant organiser, Kefilwe. Briefing the media at Renault Botswana showroom on Thursday, Kefilwe said they failed to host a local competition to crown ‘Mr Ideal’ Botswana to represent the country at the 2014 international competition. “We had to pin point a candidate to represent the country in London.”
Kefilwe said this time they will hold castings for ‘Mr Ideal’ Botswana 2015 who will go on to represent the country in December. She said they expect at least 30 participants from across the continent. Mr Africa International has been said to be the world’s fastest growing male competition and the biggest of African origin. The 2012 event was won by Adonis O’Holi of Sierra Leone. He was the first winner of the competition. Botswana’s Anderson was chosen from among 15 other gentlemen from across Africa the following year (2013). The competition is aimed at finding the best male representation of African origins throughout the world.
The winners are not only chosen because of their physical fitness, but also because of intelligence and intellectual capacity as well as their ambitions about making Africa a better place. Anderson’s plans to reach future generations through physical fitness and provide better access to education impressed the judging panel and made him stand out from his fellow candidates. He said he believed that better access to education would help make children believe that no matter how much or little money they have, they could still achieve their dreams. Anderson chose SOS Africa to be his beneficiaries for his fundraising as part of fulfilling his goals and empowering Africa’s future generations through the provision of education. “I wanted to help a charity that works towards making a better life for African children and after reading about all of the fantastic work SOS Africa does, I knew they were the right charity to support,” he said following his win.
The 2014 competition, held in London, went to Arnaldo Jose from Angola. The 22-year-old student and model took over the title from Anderson. He won modelling contracts from different business companies. The 2015 event, which was initially planned for October, is organised by First Models. Botswana beat Ghana and France in the bid to host the high fashion competition for African male models. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of First Models Management, Fortune Madyise, said they won the bid because Botswana is a peaceful country. “The event will help to promote and sell our country,” he said. Madyise told Lifestyle they were grateful for the honour because Botswana would be the first country to host it in Africa.
