The annual Miss Lesotho beauty pageant has vowed to rise above all the negative publicity around it and stage the most memorable event this year.
The Miss Lesotho 2024 contest is set to take place at Victory Hall in Maseru on September 7.
There have been complaints on social media platform Facebook that organisers are not doing enough to make the event recognised as a major event like other countries like Botswana and South Africa.
However, Miss Lesotho director ‘Mabohlokoa Mosola says she and her team have big plans to take this year’s event to a higher level in all facets such as finalist experience, production, and overall finale experience.
“We take feedback and comments received from or by our loyal supporters seriously, and do our best each year to improve where we can.
“Preparations at the moment are going as best as they can; finalists have been attending workshops and we are in the final phases of the event’s preparations such as programme and staging,” she affirmed.
This comes after jibes and trolls aimed at the prizes awarded to Miss Lesotho 2023 winner, Lerato Masila, which remained a guarded secret for about a month after her crowning. The prizes were finally revealed and they included a Tripharm cosmetics hamper, and a beauty hamper containing perfumes and makeup items from Foschini clothing store. There was no monetary prize.
Mosola said it was unfortunate that the absence of extravagant prizes is what some people chose to focus on. And for the four editions that they have managed and organised Miss Lesotho, they have never advertised the pageant with prizes as the sole purpose for entry.
“Instead, our goal has always been to create an empowerment or growth space through the pageant – be it for the young ladies who enter, the communities they impact, or other youth groups that engage with them in the different departments of the pageant and its production.
“Most of the tangible prizes also depend on what has been sponsored. This is also something we clearly explain to our finalists. For 2024, however, we can confirm cosmetics and hair care hampers – for sure, smart phone, tablet and cash,” she noted.
There are also concerns that the organisers are not doing enough to promote this event or give it a platform to be recognised hence it seems to have lost its glow and splendor.
But Mosola insisted that people’s perception and opinions will always be based on their points of reference and preferences.
“However, what I can say is that Miss Lesotho has had different administrations. There have definitely been some changes between our three editions and previous ones which were under different management.
“There are a lot of comparisons we can make, but the reality is that everyone handles their term in office differently and can only hope for the best. We’ve maintained some existing previous Miss Lesotho supporters, while creating our own along the way – all of whom appreciate where we are at and are encouraging us to continue growing.
“Miss Lesotho started in the 70s, if my records are correct. That was before I was even born so I can’t speak of anything before I actually started witnessing, getting involved and attending myself. What I know is that the pageant scene in Lesotho hasn’t been an easy space and it definitely is something that has its times and seasons. People host pageants for different reasons; some want to see the ladies in bikinis on stage and use that as a selling point. As for us, we aim to provide long-term life experiences for the ladies and contribute towards grooming them into better versions of themselves,” she explained.
Mosola also pointed out that some of their changes and inputs will definitely not be for everyone, so they will, unfortunately, lose some following. And sadly, it takes just one negative comment or review to tarnish any other good efforts they make and it’s a known fact how negativity goes – it spreads like wild fire.
However, the director expressed gratitude to the sponsors and partners that have trusted her and her team over the last three to four years; and those that have looked beyond the negativity and have actually taken time to contact, consult and support them on their vision for Miss Lesotho.
The Miss Lesotho 2024 Finalists are: Lerato Makhosane, Lerato Tshiu, Limpho Ramonate, ‘Mafokothi Mokhethi, Moroesi Lehana, Palesa Leanya, Refiloe Makhakhe, and Refiloe Makoae.
Lerato Masila was crowned Miss Lesotho 2023, ‘Majane Leshoele 1st Runner Up and
Tlhokomelo Sepetla 2nd Runner Up.
