Nthatuoa Koeshe
INFORMATION technology company Computer Business Solutions (CBS) on Saturday hosted a welcome ceremony for five young models who represented Lesotho at an international pageant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates recently.
Sandra Goncalves (15) won Miss Teen World Diversity, while Tleleng Makhakhe (14) was crowned the Miss Pre-teen 1st Princess World Diversity and Mpho Shale (nine) won Miss Petite World Diversity. Six-year-old Lineo Makhele won the Mini Miss World Diversity title and Hlompho Sefika clinched the Little Miss World Diversity title.
The event was held at the CBS offices in Maseru.
The young models competed against 14 other contestants from nine different nations.
Miss World Diversity is an international beauty pageant that promotes cultural diversity and unity among participating countries. It is held under the categories of Mrs, Miss, Teens and Kids.
Speaking at the welcome ceremony, Miss World Diversity Lesotho country director Limakatso Makutle said she was thankful for the support that she got from different people who contributed towards the trip to Dubai.
She said she hoped for more successful international beauty pageants adding that although they encountered problems like funding at the planning phase of the trip, she was glad that it was a success.
She also said they another local pageant was on the cards for December this year.
‘Mampho Shale, mother to the nine-year-old Mpho who won Miss Petite Word Diversity said she was thankful for the grooming that the children got from Ms Makutle.
Shale said in most cases parents fail to recognise their children’s talents and need someone else to spot.
“Initially we had taken our children to classes which help them with gaining confidence in themselves but we never knew that those classes would take our children to places like Dubai,” Shale said.
She said she hopes that the government would consider supporting beauty pageants in the same manner which it supports sports.
“The truth of the matter is that these children go out to represent Lesotho and they need all the support that they can get,” she said.
Speaking of their experience while in Dubai, Sefika said the trip was amazing and the interaction with contestants from other countries was the best part of the trip.
She said although she was scared of letting the country down, she knew she would win judging from the conversations she shared with some of her competitors.
“I know one cannot judge a book by its cover but the conversations I had with some of the contestants showed me that I had little to be worried about,” Sefika said.
Sefika urged other children who aspire to enter into pageants to work hard to ensure that their dreams come true.
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