01 Mar 2015

All eyes will be on Botswana as the host for this year’s Diamond Queen of Africa beauty pageant billed for Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) on September 11. The beauty pageant, attracting plus sized women, is in its second year. 

Last year’s edition, which was to be staged in Namibia, was cancelled due to Ebola scare as the pageant attracts participants from across Africa. Following their recent visit into the country, the organisers, who are  based in Zimbabwe, resolved that Botswana, given its noble facilities, qualified to host the continental spectacle. 

Diamond Queen of Africa Botswana officials said they were delighted about their mother-body’s decision, which would in turn benefit the country. “Botswana has a potential in pageants and we believe that hosting the continental pageant will leave a legacy as the pageant is charity oriented. We have orphans and the pageant aims to make a difference in their lives,” said Gugu Mavuma, the event coordinator. 

Mavuma said they were working effortlessly to make the event a success and were hopeful that locals would support the pageant, especially that it was geared at improving lives. He said the pageant’s objective was in line with the country’s Vision 2016 pillar that called for a compassionate and caring nation. 

Thus, he appealed to Batswana to support the local queen, Kutlo Motshegwa, who has been involved in several charitable works. Motshegwa was selected the fairest at the local competition last November. 

The license holder, Thato Marobela said the event would be used to sell the country, owing to various activities that would be showcasing the country’s culture and places of interest to tourists. Marobela said pageants could contribute to the country’s economy given that nowadays many people ensure that they never miss international pageants. 

She said their intention was to stage an amazing show that would win the organisers’ hearts for future consideration. The Zimbabwean based pageant director, Mercy ‘Catwalk’ Mushaninga said the pageant promoted African women, especially the curvy ones and said they intended to realise their beauty. 

She said they have charity project dubbed, Models against Hunger in Africa, which are aimed at helping Africans to go back to their traditional ways of caring for the disadvantaged, regardless of their relationship. “The Diamond Queen of Africa will be expected to spread awareness about orphaned children and help to publicise development projects across the continent.” 

She said the pageant was not  only about looks, but also efforts to make the world a better place for the orphans. Mushaninga said they had experienced lack of financial support, but remained hopeful that organisations would realise the importance of the pageant.

“Its success will go a long way in creating a better place for orphans in Africa,” he said. ENDS