From GIWAWA to NICARAGUA
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Tshegofatso Odellah Lesotlho
Location : GABORONE
Event : Interview
Who would have imagined that a little girl growing up in the dusty streets of Gaborone West or Giwawa in street parlance would one day be voted among the top three most beautiful teens in the universe.
Well wonder no more. After being crowned Miss Teen Universe second princess in Nicaragua in February, 19 year old Judith Kgwadi says that was just the beginning. She is now looking for bigger things, something everyone will talk about - the world`s major pageants – Miss Universe or Miss World. She has no doubt she will excel, just like she shone bright in Nicaragua.
Beautiful and vibrant, Judith, originally from Mookane village in the Central District, believes being among the top three beautiful teenagers in the universe has boosted her confidence to make it in the world`s major pageants. Judith looks up to Bonang Matheba from South Africa and Mpule Kwelagobe who won Miss Universe 1999.
She also draws a lot of inspiration from her mother who she says has stood with her all the time she entered a beauty pageant. In fact, it was her mother who bought the P10 000 dress for the Miss Teen Universe competition.
Together with her younger sister, Judith was raised by her single mother with their grandmother providing a pillar of support. Judith started foraging into beauty pageants in 2009 when still a form one student at Gaborone West Junior School.
Even then, she simply was the best, beating all her competitors to be crowned the queen.
The following year she transferred to Jwaneng Junior Secondary School. She continued in her quest for greatness, snatching the first princess` crown. It was little wonder when in February this year she defied all odds and made Batswana proud as she was crowned second princess at Miss Teen Universe.
And the odds? Firstly, when she left on February 8, her departure for Nicaragua was not well announced to the media, with the result she had only very few people wishing her farewell. Only Miss Teen organiser, Messiah Jackson, accompanied her.
Secondly, she was the only African at the competition. With only the organiser to support her – and only from backstage - she should have been discouraged.
The tough young lady that she is, she refused to give in to worry. She held her head high and onward she waltzed on the podium.
Her competitors would realise later on she was not there to decorate the stage when she won the best swim wear. She then mesmerised the audience with Botswana`s graceful traditional dance moves.
Messiah was there for her at the dressing room to help her change her competition outfits. However, she was not able to watch her as she was backstage most of the time.
Being the only African in the competition, Judith faced the challenge of language barrier as most of the contestants and pageant organisers did not speak English. There were instances though when an interpreter was available.
The competition was among 22 beautiful young women. Judith was determined to do her very best despite having very little support.
“I had told myself not to let my guard down because it`s not like someone will always be there for you,” she says. When the top 12 was announced, tears of joy welled up in her beautiful eyes. Would she make it to the next stage, she wondered.
Surprises among those who made it and those who did not make it popped like popcorns when the number was now cut down to top five.
The five were further slashed to three. And there among the top three, standing majestically like the African queen she is, was Judith.
It suddenly dawned on her that she was one of the top three most beautiful, most intelligent girls in the world. Little African rivulets of joy flowed down her face as the other two -Miss USA who took the crown and Miss Canada who came second - also revelled in the victorious moment.
Looking back at it all, Judith realises the victory could have gone to any of the 22 astonishingly beautiful lassies.
However, she would like to savour every moment of her tenure as Miss Teen Universe second Princess.
For her entry marked Botswana`s maiden participation.
She believes that each and every girl was beautiful and performed well in their own way.
Miss USA won the title of the night, she was crowned Miss Universe, and the first princess is from Canada.
Being announced the second princess for Miss Teen Universe was a great feeling that she could not hold her tears back anymore.
It is a great achievement to her and Batswana as it was the first time for Botswana to be part of the competition. Ends
Teaser:
I had told myself not to let my guard down because it`s not like someone will always be there for you
