01 Apr 2015

Juanitah Ballot's road to Georgia began after she was crowned Little Miss Universe at Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC) on March 29.

She will battle it out with other young queens from across the globe at the international stage representing Botswana and Africa.

The event was the first of its kind to be held in Botswana where 18 young girls who participated in the pageant were part of many girls who came for the auditions last year November.

The young girls aged between 7 and 14 years showcased their skills on stage through singing, dancing, doing poetry, dancing traditional dance, barley dance, playing marimba and violin.

Special awards were scooped by Juanitah Ballot as miss best photogenic as she was voted most by facebook fans who liked her pictures, followed by Koketso Baruti scooping miss best talent voted by judges as she impressed the audience through playing keyboard and singing John Legend`s song; All of me leaving revelers shouting for more.

Lulu Bolaane scooped Miss Friendship voted by contestants as the most friendly and interactive person, Wame Baleseng went away with Miss Congeniality, followed by Pamella Ramantsima as Miss Best Model while last award went to Alicia Kruger as Miss Beauty.

The judges selected top 10 as Miss Photogenic was automatically in making the number 11 before they could select top five. Ballot became Little Miss Universe Botswana, followed by First Princess Wame Baleseng, second runner up Leungo Norman, third runner up Tumisang Kesiilwe, forth runner up Nnete Iketleng.

The director and founder of Little Miss Universe Botswana who is also Miss World Tourism second Runner Up, Ms Tebogo Lebanna said in an interview that the beauty pageant is aimed at promoting culture, widening children’s outlook, promoting love and friendship between children of different nationalities.

The international competition will be held from June 1-7 in Georgia, Europe and only three African countries; Botswana, South Africa and Nigeria will take part.

The young contestants who battled included Nnete Iketleng, Leungo Norman, Juanitah Ballot, Jannet Seeletso, Angela Serame, Jessicah Sengwane, Tsoane Tokwe, Koketso Baruti, Alicia Kruger, Nhlonipho Mokwena, Wame Baleseng, Tumisang Kesiilwe, Thobo Gabakhe, Karabo Segwati, Pamella Ramantsima, Yolanda Nsihibi, Wedu Sebina and Lulu Bolaane.

The pageant was sponsored by Grand Palm Hotel Casino Convention Resort, American Travel Agency, Ben Dan Photography, Cresta President Hotel and ministry of Wildlife Environment and Tourism.

The panelists for the day were Miss Raining World Supper Model, Ms Nature Inger, private secretary in the minister of Wildlife Environment and Tourism, Ms Pako Nyepi, Miss Earth 2012 Lorraine Ditsebe and Second Princess Miss Botswana 2013 Ms Khumo Leburu.

The pageant was founded in 2005 in Tbilisi Georgia and it will be the tenth time it is being held. ENDS