24 Sep 2015

Mahalapye was the place to be this past weekend as many came to witness Central District-Miss RADP 2015. Eighteen girls from the Central District came to try their luck in this year’s Miss RADP beautiful contest and the participating sub districts included the host Mahalapye, Tutume, Boteti, Serowe, Tonota and Bobirwa sub-districts.

Participants first paraded putting on jeans and white vests, then traditional attires and finally evening dresses. It was 23-year-old Oduetse Kenyaditswe from Lepogole in the Bobirwa Sub-district who went away with the crown.

Kenyaditswe, who proved to be the judges’ favourite, was followed by Mahalapye Sub-district’s contestants, 25-year-old Tshiamo Kengwegile from Mokgenene and  19-year-old Gloria Gaboemelwe from Otse who were crowned first and second princesses respectively.

Officially opening the pageant, motivational speaker and women activist, Ntombi Setshwaelo said it was not about having a beautiful face and body, but how one carried herself and behaves in order to succeed in life.

Setshwaelo said it was not easy to see many young girls in remote areas succeed, but that the pageant was a platform for the young girls to empower themselves and conquer.

She said coming from a remote area where resources were limited does not define someone, but how one uses her talent to overcome such obstacles, adding that it showed great courage and discipline for them to have entered the pageant as it could be used to empower them.

She explained that people should understand that it was not easy and people should learn to live cautious and fulfilling lives so as to know what they want and where they were heading in life.

Setshwaelo advised that people should know what they want, adding that the girls have been going through an initiation where they were now moving from girlhood to womanhood, and all because they were presented with an opportunity and they used it. “You are what you are and what you think being it mind, soul and body, therefore all you should live to embrace that in life,’ she said.

She applauded all the girls and encouraged that it takes a good and responsible individuals to volunteer in such initiatives, as they were not only empowering themselves, but where they come from despite their circumstances. She said winning was not only for them, but showed that volunteerism was good, therefore, she encouraged them to be courageous in life and lead by example. Setshwaelo also applauded organisers of the event, saying it takes good leaders to nurture and empower young girls and even young boys from difficult backgrounds to show them the meaningful way of life. Miss RADS Central District 2014 Duduetsang Selebile from Tonota Sub-district also encouraged the girls to take pride in themselves and believe that they could make it in life.

Selebile said it was not easy coming from remote villages but encouraged the youth to take advantage of government initiatives meant to empower them. She encouraged the girls to behave well and know that they represents their villages and the communities they come from, adding that she gives thanks to the community and leadership of Gojwane where she comes from.

She noted that they should have vision, be exemplary so that they could help change the mindset of their communities. She noted that despite living in remote areas one could still make it in life. She said through her winnings from the pageant she prides herself that despite emerging a winner in Central District she also emerged a farmer, adding that people should strive for the best and encouraged them to make use of the initiatives start projects and develop and promote their lives and those around them.

For her part, Kenyaditswe a Tirelo Setshaba participant at Lephogole Primary School encouraged others that it takes hard work and determination to get where she was. She said she did not give up last year when she did not get a position, but she never gave up and believed in herself, adding that she also listened carefully to what was needed and made sure she does exactly that for her to walk away with the crown.

She advised the youth to never give up in life and also make use of government initiatives as they were meant to empower them, adding that as the queen she now has a duty to go back to Lephogole and teach others about the initiatives so that they could also benefit from them. Ends