Lerato Matheka
MASERU — Nomazondo Mphakisoane who is representing Lesotho in the Miss World 2012 beauty pageant in China says she has what it takes to walk away with the top prize.
The competition will be held in August.
“I am very excited and ready to make Basotho proud in China,” Mphakisoane told XpressPeople on Friday.
This will be Mphakisoane’s second shot at the title after she was disqualified from the competition last year after arriving late in England.
“The mere fact that I have been given a second chance by the organisers of the Miss World has given me much courage,” Mphakisoane said.
The 24 year-old beauty queen said she hopes to perform well in China.
“With the international exposure I got from Miss University Africa in 2010 I am ready to make Basotho proud,” she said.
However, Mphakisoane who won a ticket to represent Lesotho at Miss World last year after she was crowned Face of Lesotho winner, might see her dreams of going to China go up in smoke.
The beauty queen is still looking for financial assistance to buy a return air ticket and attire.
The director of face of Lesotho, Tlali Tlali, told XpressPeople that they haven’t submitted Mphakisoane’s name although she was given a second chance to participate at the international pageant.
“I wrote to the Ministry of Tourism at the beginning of the year and I’m still hoping to get a reply on whether they are going to help secure a ticket for Nomazondo.
“We are however still sourcing other alternative means to finance the trip before submitting her portfolio,” Tlali said.
“We don’t have enough money to buy Nomazondo a flight ticket.”
Mphakisoane said she was appealing for financial support from the government and local companies for her air fares and costumes needed during the competition.
“People should look at this from a broader angle. I am representing Lesotho not Nomazondo.
That is why last year it was in the news that Lesotho had failed to participate in the competition, not Nomazondo. I am a delegate needing assistance,” she said.
Mphakisoane who is studying for a Diploma in Business Management at the Institute of Extra Mural Studies (IEMS) said her studies have prevented her from taking part in social responsibility programmes.
She however pledged to embark on a feeding campaign for the homeless next month.
“Social responsibility is vital in building a beauty queen’s portfolio so I will embark on feeding the homeless next month.
“I will also donate clothes to the needy for winter.”
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