MASERU — It’s been a long wait for Sarah Mafereka.
Ten months since she was crowned the inaugural Face of Rajoc, the 23-year-old is yet to enjoy her major prize: a dream trip to Italy.
The organisers of the beauty pageant had said Mafereka will be off to Italy by September 23.
But the ramp queen revealed to the Sunday Express that she has to wait a little longer. Mafereka claimed visa problems had forced the rescheduling of her tour, which she “thinks” could be in October.
“I was not pleased when the flight was postponed, but there was nothing I could do,” said Mafereka.
She however said the visa was now ready for her to finally leave for Europe. The trip has been embroiled in controversy since Mafereka was named the winner of the Face of Rajoc pageant in November.
Italian businessman Franco D’Arrigo, who is based in South Africa, is bankrolling the excursion.
D’Arrigo last year distanced himself from the promises initially made to models in the Face of Rajoc contest that the winner would take part in a Miss Million Dollar pageant in Italy.
It however emerged there was only one Miss Million Dollar contest which had apparently taken place at the Sun City in South Africa during the same weekend the Face of Rajoc pageant was held. D’Arrigo said his promise to take the Face of Rajoc winner to Italy was not “fake”.
He said Mafereka was expected to arrive in Rome on September 24, where she would tour the ancient city “with the emphasis on top fashion houses in the Spanish Steps area” before taking part in photo-shoots.
Mafereka yesterday told the Sunday Express she will, once in Italy, take part in a Ragazza Cinema pageant as well as photo shoots.
“I believe in myself and I always say I am a winner,” she said.
“I am going to make Basotho proud in a competition that will be held in Italy and they must trust me.”
As part of her prizes, Mafereka received M5 000 in cash on top of a fridge and a microwave.
She said she is currently working at Rajoc Hair Salon, which organised the pageant, to keep herself busy while waiting to fly to Italy.
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