27 Oct 2024

The break of dawn, Saturday, ushered in Botshelo Ikgakololeng and Thatayaone Thobogang as Mr & Miss RADP Bobirwa respectively.

At a fashion show that sought to live true to its luster of unearthing natural beauty and talent, the 24-year-old Ikgakololeng of Tshokwe thoroughly vanquished his fellow contestants to land a remote area dwellers coveted crown reserved for young men aged between 18 and 27.

With the crown came P5 000 and a P15 000 startup capital from FMK Trust.

Ikgakololeng was flanked by first prince, Edwin Boy of Robelela who pocketed P4 000 and second prince, Oabona Keithokile who got P3 000.

For ladies, 23-year-old Thobogang of Robelela sparkled the most amongst the contestants and garnered the crown with a P5 000 prize money and also a P15 000 business startup capital from FMK Trust.

Her first and second princesses, Gaone Sesupeng of Tshokwe and Salome Molefi of Robelela each pocketed P4 000 and P3 000 respectively.

Following their successes at a district level, they are now shooting for the ultimate Mr & Miss RADP Fashion Show crowns slated for November in Gaborone.

“I will be going to Gaborone to snatch the crown and make my people happy,” Ikgakololeng promised and added that such a dream nagged him for a long time.

The king who contested in the 2023 Mr RADP Fashion show and only managed to make the top five, said that his family were a driving force in his decision to give the title another shot despite some people dissuading him against it.

“Since competing here last year, it has always been my dream to win this crown and I stand here today having realised it,” he said.

Ikgakololeng felt challenged to encourage others from his home village to equally partake in the programme.

“I’ve realised that there’s a lot to reap from this programme. You can win and get a chance to choose a business of your liking and pursue it to feed your livelihood,” he added.

The ‘bring the crown home’ thrum reverberated even on the queen’s palace.

She was upbeat she packed in gallons the ability to be crowned the fairest woman of the remote areas countrywide.

“Expect me to sit on the throne and there and ultimately bring the crown home in Bobirwa,” committed queen Thobogang said.

Like the king, Thobogang competed in 2023 but was not successful. However, the competition earned her some invaluable lessons she brought to the 2024 competition where she shone brightest with the rising sun of Saturday.

“As a young person from the remote area, I should say I learnt a lot from this experience and I expect to reap subsequent rewards,” she said.

With the startup funds, she intends to start a salon business and engage other young people of Robelela to put food on the table while extending the same to their families. She hopes her journey will cause the community to also help address unemployment, teenage pregnancy and alcohol abuse.

Speaking at the show, assistant minister of local government and rural development Talita Monnakgotla hailed the programme as having dominated the nation’s reception in 2013  and has become a national annual event.

The Mr RADP fashion show was later introduced in 2018 as a way of empowering boy child. Bobirwa District Council was hosting the second show after being declared a full council in April 2023.

“The aim of the pageant is to promote youth empowerment in the marginalised communities. The pageant gives them the dignity and pride of their heritage as well as personal development,” said Monnakgotla. She said that her ministry intends on continued promotion of entrepreneurship within the remote area communities.  ENDS