By Neo Kolane
It’s official! Twenty-two-year old Charlene McPherson of Khubetsoana in Maseru, is the new Face of Lesotho Fashion Week.
The sassy and gorgeous lass who grew up in Mohale’s Hoek pipped 99 other beauties to the crown, which had culminated in a fierce battle between eight contestants on June 15.
Charlene told theReporter that she entered the competition on April 29 and that the top 8 were announced on May 3.
“I have always wanted to be associated with the Lesotho Fashion Week for as long as I can remember; that is why when the competition was announced I jumped at the opportunity.
“My passion for modelling started during my late high school years but I only pursued it in my first year at varsity. I guess I could say I have always been into it but I only got the confidence to say, ‘I can do it, I too am good enough and I have what it takes’ when I went up to university.
“The journey was exciting, I had a lot to learn from the competition and other contestants. There was a time when things were a bit hectic, yes, but it was worth it.”
She says she intends to rise and stand for a few causes like the fight against human trafficking under the ‘I’ll make you a top model’ guise.
“I think our girls end up falling into this trap because of lack of opportunities. I would like to address that and hopefully collaborate with holders of other pageant titles in the country. My ultimate passion is youth empowerment. Like teaching them the importance of having a vision and a whole range of other skills that are not taught at school. Another important issue relates to mental health.
“The next step from here is international assignments, but first I am going to leave a footprint by effecting change as the first ever Face of Lesotho Fashion Week. My advice to up and coming models is: like sport, modelling needs training, practice, honing your skills, keeping fit and eating well. Make sure to be prepared to strut your stuff on the world stage before actually entering, because representing your country while the whole world watches is a huge responsibility.
“Rejection comes with the territory, so you’ve got to have a thick skin. You must never stop working on your craft; even the world’s top models still have mentors and coaches,” she concluded.
