31 Aug 2017

Preparations for the annual Miss Independence Kgatleng (MIK) are ongoing with a few weeks left before the pageant takes place.

The pageant will be held on September 23 at Malotwane. 

This year, 10 beauties from the Kgatleng District will battle it out for the crown that will be handed over by the reigning Queen Tshepo Nthaga.

In an interview, MIK coordinator, Lebopo Bulayani said the pageant has grown since its inception in 2015, urging all to be a part of the event that does not only contribute towards an individual, but the community as well. 

“Miss Independence Kgatleng is not just about pageantry, but an organisation that helps build young ladies into mature women who are ready for any responsibilities. It also gives back to the community,” she said.

Bulayani said they have managed to donate to DRM hospital, gave out school uniform to two primary schools in Kgatleng through the help of Botswana Stock Exchange chief executive officer Thapelo Tsheole.

She said they were currently going around schools motivating students about importance of education, culture and about life transformation. 

Schools already visited include Artesia and Oodima.

Bulayani urged Batswana to lend a helping hand and support their brand to help it grow. 

She also said they were in need of a patron to help them and sponsors to help them achieve their goals and objectives.

She further said they managed to hand over all prizes to their 2016 Queens through the help of Ministry of Youth, Sports Empowerment and Culture Development. 

She said they were working towards soliciting support for sponsorship to keep the pageant going.

Sharing her experience, the reigning Queen Tshepo Nthaga said it had been an experience for her as she was now a brand as most people see her as an activist and everything that she does now was for her community.

Nthaga said with a mentor like Lebopo who instilled confidence in her, she is now a mentor and a member of Game Changers Charity organisation offering her intellectual abilities for free.

She said she was now part of Miss Elegance, which she believe was also leverage for greater things and would love to join Miss Botswana in future. ENDS