MASERU — Lesotho’s first Miss Teen beauty contest has been postponed to December 18.
The pageant was initially pencilled in for this Saturday but has now been moved to allow the beginners more time to prepare.
“Only six of the final 24 girls have had modelling experience with the rest being beginners,” Rapitso Rapitso, one of the organisers told the Weekender.
“We realised holding the pageant on December 3 would be too soon for them.”
The pageant is open to girls between the ages of 14 and 19.
“Most of the girls are high school students but we have others who are at tertiary level,” he said.
“The girls started attending rehearsals on November 12 and we feel they are not yet ready to walk the ramp,” he added.
The girls are set to leave for a boot camp this weekend for further practice.
“The girls will take part in activities such as tug-of-war, presentations, and sporting activities during a three-day boot camp at Khotsong Lodge from December 2-4,” Rapitso said.
The young participants will also engage in debating competitions on different topics including Basotho culture to test their knowledge of culture as young Basotho girls.
Rapitso said the girls were also being tested on their potential as business people.
“We have a programme called Beauty and Business Mind (BBM) which requires the girls to convince people to attend the show through ticket sales which earn them points,” he said.
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“We are trying to establish as many activities to keep their minds prepared for national and international pageants.
“On top of the consolation prizes for participants, the pageant is going to be awarding best swim wear girl, Miss Photogenic, the best smile, posture and intelligent girl.
“So apart from the crown and the second and third runner-up, we are going to have five more awards,” he said.
“We had 35 girls who attended auditions but only 24 made it to the final list.
“We however are continuing to get girls requesting to audition but we are telling them to return next year,” Rapitso said.
The pageant is sponsored by local companies, Exquisite Marketing and Brayk Thru Media.
Young fashion designers, Koena Moshoeshoe and George Malelu, will have a chance to showcase their talents as contestants will be putting on some of their garments.