Masekhoane Hlobelo crowned Miss IDM

Mamohlakola Letuka

MASEKHOANE Hlobelo (21) from the Institute of Development Management (IDM) Lesotho was last Tuesday crowned Miss IDM at an inter-campus event held at Lehakoe Recreational Club in Maseru.

Botswana’s Naleli Setso, 21, was crowned Mr IDM at the same occasion that was hosted by events company, Solo Productions.

Hlobela and Setso emerged the winners in the keenly contested pageant beating 15 other contestants respectively.

Kesaolopa Tshireletso from Botswana came second while Swaziland’s Temakholo Masina had to settle for the second princess.

In the male category, Setso beat Lesotho’s Linake Linake and Leroy Jaubert from Swaziland who came second and third respectively.

The king and the queen took home M2000 each, while their first runners-up bagged M1800 and second runners-up walked away M1500 richer each.

Hlobeloe said she would use her crown to inspire upcoming models and invest her time into more community work.

A member of the Anglican Church, she said would share and invest time in helping the under privileged members of the community.

“I am used to helping people and I can only improve on what I know,” Hlobela said.

Her debut contest, Hlobela said at the first stages of the contest, she thought it was beginners luck.

“I am still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I won, I was not confident,” she said.

“The people’s reaction as I walked down the ramp made matters worse.”

For his part, Setso said coming from a stereotypical environment where the belief is that only homosexuals participate in pageants, he had defied the odds.

“Back home most people view modeling as a feminine profession and I joined the pageant to prove people wrong,” Setso said.

“This crown comes with responsibility and among others, I need to invest time in charity work and live to represent my school at all times.”

A clash broke out between some of the students and musician, Vesta’s entourage when a beer can was accidentally dropped and it tumbled from the balcony and spilled beverage onto the audience downstairs.

The fiasco that ensued had to be stopped by the organisers who stepped in to restore sanity.

Socialite, Mavele, who hosted the event had the crowd going spellbound with his deft dances while DJ Gama complemented him on the decks.

The show was then redeemed by the polished acts of Megahertz, Pablo DJ and Vesta who marshalled the party till the wee hours of the next morning.