Mohalenyane Phakela

BEAUTY queen, Bongiswa Hesman, is appealing for sponsorship for her participation in the Miss Heritage International pageant to be held from 6 to 13 December 2015 in New Delhi, India.

Hesman, who is Lesotho’s representative at the global pageant, told Xpress People this past week she needed M40 000 to pay for her transport costs and attire.

“I have only managed to raise M500, courtesy of ‘Me Pontšo Sekatle, but it is only a fraction of the M40 000 I need,” she said.

“My family has also been helping me in buying part of the attire I need to compete in the pageant.”

Launched in 2011 in Zimbabwe, the Miss Heritage International pageant aims to promote global awareness in areas such as culture, tourism, historical heritage, preservation of the environment and world peace among others.

Only 15 ladies who get the most votes in the pageant’s online voting platform get to strut their stuff during the finale in the sub-continent nation. Hesman is currently in pole position against 31 contestants with 7 948 votes, followed by the Philippines representative with 6 267 votes.

However, this could all come to nought if the sponsorship does not materialise, she said.

“I was so excited to land the number one spot on the online voting platform since it showed that I had the most support and a very good chance of bringing the title home.

“However, the joy turned to sadness after I realised the pageant would be held less than a month from now and yet I don’t have the money for the trip. I am now helplessly watching the days go by with no solution in sight,” Hesman noted pensively.

The 2013 Face of Lesotho, 2014 Miss Lesotho Companies and second princess in the 2014 Queen of Iceland pageant, held in Pretoria, called on Basotho to help her raise the money.

“Basotho should translate the support they have been giving me by voting for me online into financial support so that I can go and showcase this nation’s rich cultural heritage at the a global stage,” Hesman said.