05 Nov 2014

The Miss RADP Affirmative Action-Kgalagadi pageant finale is expected to make a return this Saturday, November 8 in Hukuntsi, following a successful spectacle in its debutant year last year.

This year’s pageant will be hosted under the theme: Unearthing natural beauty and talent. The pageant’s main objective was to promote inclusion of young women in mainstream society and build their self-esteem through participation in national events. 

Even though the spectacle might fall far beyond the famous international beauty contents like Miss World or Miss Universe in terms of standard, bragging rights will be all at stake as eye candies from both Kgalagadi North and South battle it out the crown.

Last year, 21 years old Oratile Moapare from Kokotsa in Kgalagadi South was a cut above the rest of her compatriots from the 10 settlements in Kgalagadi district hence it remains to be seen if Kgalagadi South will make it twice in a raw or Kgalagadi North will as the host use the home support base to their advantage.

The battle for supremacy between Kgalagadi North and South might not be in the open but usually when the contingents from the two constituencies battle it out, it is the grass that suffers most.

“It will be all system goes this Saturday and the public should expect all the glitz and glamour that defines a beauty contest,” indicated Ms Makgowa Mosime, a member of the organising committee.

The pageant, she said among others, promote the inclusiveness of the previously disadvantaged remote area communities in development activities and brand affirmative action while at the same time increasing participation of young women from rural areas in preserving their culture and building their self-esteem.

Young woman in rural areas continue to persistently experience the highest poverty incidence compared to their counterparts elsewhere and a lot of them, she said continue to see their dreams diminishing due to their living conditions.

She is therefore, optimistic that facilitating talent identification and encouraging behavior change especially among the youth in remote area communities through conducting beauty pageants can restore some self-esteem with such communities. 

“Poverty incidence which in most cases is a result of low self-esteem is one of the dominant factors in the lives of young woman living in many rural areas across the country therefore a beauty contest of this nature may assist in building their personas,” she stated.

The Miss Rural Area Development Programme - Kgalagadi is expected to compete with other beauty queens from the 67 settlements across Botswana for the National Miss RADP Affirmative Action crown to be held later this year.

The crowned queen is expected to be an ambassador of rural dwellers and advocate for access to basic social amenities in rural areas. ENDS