Miss Universe Botswana Heats Up: Top 30 Contestants Unveiled Ahead of International Pageant
The journey to crowning a new Miss Universe queen is heating up. Miss Universe recently returned after a ten-year hiatus, and many were eager to see how this big comeback would unfold. Organizers of the prestigious pageant have been busy preparing, and the recent unveiling of the Top 30 contestants has left Batswana excited and anxiously awaiting what else is in store.
This past weekend, the Top 30 contestants participated in a Miss Universe Botswana 2024 Mindset Change Forum. The event was held at the National Museum and Art Gallery, taking the contestants on a journey through their heritage and future aspirations.
To showcase the beauty of Setswana culture, the contestants came dressed in blue German print attires, complemented with blue doeks and Megagolwane. While this attire is mostly reserved for special occasions and is traditionally for married women, we can't help but marvel at how stunning and breathtaking they all looked. Indeed, Botswana will be well represented at the international pageant to be held in Mexico.
History of Miss Universe Botswana
Botswana first took part in Miss Universe in 1999, represented by Mpule Kwelagobe under the directorship of the legendary Maleta Lock. She was the first black Miss Universe queen from Africa to win the title. She is said to have been the first black African woman to win a major international beauty pageant and the third black woman to win Miss Universe.
Since 2010, Safie Sekgwa of Mos Syde Company has been the National Director of Miss Universe Botswana. Since 1999, Botswana has had eight Miss Universe queens. They include Joyce Molemoeng (2000), Mataila Sikwane (2001), and Icho Kealotswe (2004), all under Lock's directorship. Other queens include Tirelo Ramasedi (2010), Larona Kgabo (2011), Sheillah Molelekwa (2012), and Tsaone Macheng (2013) under Sekgwa's leadership.