MASERU — Beauty queen Karabelo Mokoallo made history on Saturday when she was crowned Miss Humanity International 2011 in Barbados.
The 24-year-old also won two other titles during the same pageant, the Continental Queen of Africa and Beauty with a Mission.
Mokoallo arrived at Moshoeshoe I International Airport yesterday to a rousing welcome from government officials, friends and journalists.
The 1.78 metre beauty defeated 13 other contestants to clinch the title.
The first runner-up was 20-year-old Earlane Labassiere from the Dominican Republic.
Miss Philippines, Miss South Africa and Miss Canada came second, third, and fourth respectively.
Speaking to the Lesotho Times yesterday, Mokoallo said: “I didn’t see this coming at all but I asked God for it . . . I have made history and I am very thankful.”
“It was a very emotional journey especially during the crowning. I didn’t have any representative from Lesotho like other contestants so I had no one to celebrate with but Botswana and South Africa celebrated with me,” she said.
She said the competition was very tight.
“Each country was represented by their best so it wasn’t a walk-over type of a competition.”
Mokoallo said the win had put Lesotho on the international map.
“It is a step to another level for me and I am expecting greater things. People are talking about Lesotho and this is just too great.”
“People in Barbados didn’t even know of Lesotho but now that we have an international crown, it is going to be easy for the world to recognise us as a country.”
She said she will set up projects against breast cancer and HIV and Aids “and as soon as I establish the projects, I will be working in hand with the organisers”.
Mokoallo will receive US$1000 (M8 000) during her reign to fund the project.
The Lesotho Times contributed M5 000 towards her travel to Barbados.
