Mohalenyane Phakela
FOR the first time in Lesotho’s history, local beauty pageant organisers, Rajoc, will include full-figured women in their show to be held on July 12.
Plus-sized women have generally been left out of the local modelling industry with the prevailing bias being towards skinny models.
That is about to change as buxom models will also be able to strut their stuff on the runway.
“Plus size modelling has become so popular in other countries and more of these models are engaged in different fashion shows,” pageant organiser, Tlali Tlali told The Weekender on Monday.
“Fashion designers are starting to look more closely at the earning potential from plus-size clothing, and have used plus-size models for their advertising campaigns and catwalks.
“Our country has been left behind when it comes to full-figured models, so we believe it is high time we have our own models who can even compete at international level.”
“Besides that, there are so many plus-sized women here in Lesotho who have always wanted to join the industry but never got the chance we are giving them now,” Tlali added.
The plus-sized contest will be in two categories and divided along age groups 17-21 and 22-26.
According to Tlali there will also be a Mr Lesotho contest for the first time following the aborted launch last year due to a lacklustre response from potential contestants.
“Pageants for male participants had, in the past, taken a back seat and we are trying to bring them back into the spotlight since we are eyeing the glamorous Mr World pageant,” added Tlali.
“The pageant is not merely about having muscles but the contestants should also have a well-structured body.
Entrants for the male pageant should be at least 1.7 metres tall, good-looking and participate in sporting activities.
Added to that, they must be non-smokers and non-alcoholics, be fluent in English and aged between 17 and 26. Tlali also stipulated that contestants are expected to be humble and respectful.
That will not be all Rajoc will be crowning on that day.
There will also be, for the first time, a Mrs Lesotho pageant for married women between the age of 28 and 35.
The annual Miss Lesotho Teen and Miss Lesotho contests will be the highlight of the event as the winners will then compete in the Miss Commonwealth pageant to be held in London in November.
