Latest news with #MissBotswana
Hans India
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hans India
From village pride to global stage: Anicia Gaothusi's journey of purpose and empowerment
In an exclusive feature interview, Anicia Gaothusi, the reigning Miss Botswana, shared her extraordinary journey from a small village in Botswana to the global stage of Miss World. With warmth and sincerity, she recounted how it all began in 2019 when she stepped into the world of pageantry. 'I started way back in 2019 with pageantry,' Anicia said, 'but I genuinely fell in love with it when I started representing my country internationally.' Her first-ever competition was none other than Miss Botswana itself, where she competed against 30 girls from across the nation. 'That was my first pageant, and I went straight into Miss Botswana,' she recalled. 'Representing my own village really meant a lot to me.' Winning the crown was a life-changing experience. 'Eventually I won Miss Botswana, and the journey itself was just an incredible journey of roller coasters,' she said. 'I learned so much about my country, learned so much about representing a country that is full of peace.' She emphasized how the title comes with immense responsibility. 'Becoming Miss Botswana means that you have to represent your country at Miss World,' Anicia explained. 'Now I'm here in Telangana making sure that my country is well represented.' With pride and humility, she added, 'I'm representing every individual, every young man, every young woman in Botswana. Representing their heritage and their love.' Her time in India has been both educational and culturally enriching. 'Being in Telangana has been an amazing journey because I'm learning so much about Telugu and the culture here,' she said. 'The first thing I learned was that in Hindi we say Namaste, and in Telugu we say Namastam.' She also shared her excitement about learning more about the fabrics, food, and traditions of the region. 'I still do love my biryani,' she smiled, 'but otherwise I am enjoying this journey so far and I can't wait to see how far Miss World will take me.' She spoke passionately about the importance of women empowerment. 'Women empowerment is very important,' she asserted. 'As women, we are rising to become leaders and we are being put in places that represent who we are.' She added, 'We represent so much strength, we represent so much resilience. We are not just mothers or sisters anymore, we are also leaders of tomorrow.' Her words carried a sense of mission: 'We are standing up for communities and for people who can't speak for themselves. We're giving confidence to every young girl who dreams of being bigger… paving the way for everyone behind us.' Alongside her responsibilities as Miss Botswana, Anicia continues her education with great determination. 'I am a student at Khabar Lahariya University of Professional Studies doing my Procurement and Supply. I'm also studying EMC—Medical Emergency Care.' Her inspiration comes from her family. 'Most of my family members were either doctors or nurses,' she said. 'I had the privilege to travel around the country and learn about healthcare from stories my grandmother and uncle shared.' This connection to healthcare led her to create a community initiative called LIFE. 'I am bridging the gap of basic first aid and teaching people about the importance of saving lives,' she explained. 'That little minute in critical situations is crucial. You need to know what to do before reaching a clinic.' She added, 'In my country we have free healthcare, but the gap is the distance from home to the clinic. So when you have that little time to sustain someone's life, it's very important to learn those basic things.' She is equally focused on the logistics of healthcare. 'I want to really supply my country with the right quality medical equipment—from beds, chairs, electric CPR equipment, to anything needed in clinical services,' she stated. When asked about her plans if she wins Miss World, Anicia responded with vision and clarity. 'God-given I win the pageant, my plan is to travel around the country and learn more about what is affecting the people. I want to empower them to stand up, become leaders.' Even if she doesn't win, her mission remains the same. 'I go back home and continue to represent who I am. I finish school and continue with my project. I want to become the woman I've always dreamed of being—the leader, the empowerer, the groomer.' She offered heartfelt advice to aspiring contestants. 'To all the girls, pageantry is not just about beauty,' she said. 'It's about the purpose you serve. It grooms you, helps you grow in confidence, and understand your country and your community better.' She encouraged them to 'stay confident, stay true to yourself, stay authentic.' With conviction, Anicia answered whether women can make a difference in their communities. 'Yes. Yes, they do.' She shared the powerful story of former Miss Botswana, Lesira Chombo. 'She represented the country at the 71st Miss World and won the Miss World Africa title. Now, she's the Minister of Youth and Gender.' For her, it was proof of how pageantry can lead to leadership. 'That already shows us as a country and as a world that women can make an impact,' she said. 'So many women are going into leadership, into parliament, into ministries. It really shows that women can make a bigger impact.' Through her story, Anicia Gaothusi offers more than beauty and grace—she embodies purpose, resilience, and hope. Her journey is a testament to the power of dreams, the strength of service, and the impact of empowered women.
Business Insider
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Insider
Miss World Africa Lesego Chombo joins Botswana's cabinet, makes history at 27
Lesego Chombo, Miss Botswana 2022 and the current Miss World Africa 2024 has become the youngest cabinet minister in Botswana's history at the age of 27 after she was recently appointed Minister of Youth and Gender by President Duma Boko. Lesego Chombo, Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024, has been appointed Botswana's youngest cabinet minister at age 27. She serves as the Minister of Youth and Gender, appointed by President Duma Boko due to her impactful advocacy work. Chombo credits her pageantry experience for providing a platform to amplify her voice and drive societal change. She did not campaign. She didn't even know the president. But now she's in charge of solving some of Botswana's biggest problems – from youth unemployment to gender-based violence – and she's already making a splash. 'I've never been more proud of being young,' Chombo said shortly after his appointment. 'I'm passionate about youth development, gender equality, and the future of our children.' From Miss World to Minister A trained lawyer and founder of the Lesego Chombo Foundation, Lesego was appointed as a specially elected MP. "The president has never met me," she admitted. "But I think the work I did and the platform I had helped make the case. Now, she is one of only six women in the 69-member National Assembly and arguably its most talked about issue. With Botswana's youth unemployment above 28%, and nearly two-thirds of the population under 35, Chombo wants to flip that narrative by pushing policies that favor youth-owned businesses, increasing state procurement quotas, and creating a new 'youth ecosystem'. But it was her stance on gender-based violence that drew the most controversial reactions. After voting against a proposal to introduce 'peace desks' for survivors in police stations, some accused her of failing women. Chombo declared saying that the laws already exist, but the real success lies in enforcement. "It hurts to know I could be next," she said after new stats showed more than 100 rapes and 10 murders during the festive period alone. Miss World Africa Lesego Chombo She is now pushing for a tough new Gender-Based Violence Act, and is calling for action across government in schools, hospitals and homes. Chombo says her rise began with her mother and was shaped by her Miss World journey.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Proud to be young' - Beauty queen, lawyer and Botswana's youngest cabinet minister
Lesego Chombo's enthusiasm for life is as infectious as her achievements are impressive: she has won the Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024 crowns, is a working lawyer, has set up her own charitable foundation - and made history in November, becoming Botswana's youngest cabinet minister. She was just 26 years old at the time - and had clearly impressed Botswana's incoming President Duma Boko, whose Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had just won a landslide, ousting the party that had governed for 58 years. It was a seismic shift in the politics of the diamond-rich southern African nation - and Boko, a 55-year-old Harvard-trained lawyer, hit the ground running. His main focus, he said, was fixing an economy too reliant on diamonds, telling the BBC ahead of his inauguration that he wanted young people to be the solution - "to become entrepreneurs, employ themselves and employ others". Key to this was finding a suitable ambassador - and Chombo was clearly it: a young woman already committed to various causes. He made her minister of youth and gender. "I've never been more proud to be young," she told the BBC at the ministry's headquarters in the capital, Gaborone. "I'm a young person living in Botswana, passionate about youth development, gender equality, but also so passionate about the development of children." The beauty queen did not campaign to be an MP - she is what is called a specially elected member of parliament - and is now one of just six female MPs in the 69-member National Assembly. Chombo said becoming an MP and then minister came as a complete surprise to her. "I got appointed by a president who had never met me," she said. "Miss World and the journey that I thought I was supposed to pursue as my final destination was only the platform through which I would be seen for this very role." It was her crowning as Miss Botswana in 2022 that raised her profile and enabled her to campaign for social change, while trying to inspire other young women. It also gave her the opportunity to set up the Lesego Chombo Foundation, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged youngsters and their parents in rural areas – and which she is still involved with, its projects funded by corporate companies and others. "We strive to have a world where we feel seen and heard and represented. I'm very thrilled that I happen to be the very essence of that representation," she said. As she prepared for last year's Miss World pageant, she said: "I really put myself in the zone of service. I really channelled it for this big crown." Now in political office, she is aware of the expectations placed on her in a country where approximately 60% of the population is below 35 years. It also has a high level of unemployment - 28%, which is even higher for young people and women who have limited economic opportunities and battle systemic corruption. Chombo said this was something she was determined to change: "Currently in Botswana, the rates of unemployment are so high. "But it's not just the rate of unemployment, it's also just the sphere of youth development. "It's lacking, and so my desire is to create an ecosystem, an environment, a society, an economy in which youth can thrive." Chombo said her plan was to develop a comprehensive system that nurtured youth-led initiatives, strengthened entrepreneurship and ensured young people had a seat at the table when decisions were being made. With Botswana's anti-corruption policy undergoing a rigorous review, she said this would ensure that quotas for young entrepreneurs - when state departments and agencies put out tenders for goods and services - were actually reached. The government has begun a 10-month forensic audit of government spending that will include 30 state-owned enterprises. Indeed President Boko is intent on cracking down on corruption, seeing this as a way to bolter investor confidence and diversify the economy - something his deputy has been seeking to do on recent trips to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland. And a key deal has now been secured with UAE-based CCI Global, a provider of business process outsourcing, to open a hub in Botswana. While youth development is a central pillar of her work, gender equity also remains close to her heart. Her short time in office has coincided with a growing outcry over gender-based violence. According to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report, over 67% of women in Botswana have experienced abuse, more than double the global average. "It hurts to know that it could be me next," she admitted. A month into her appointment, she was criticised for voting against an opposition motion in parliament to create "peace desks" at police stations and magistrate courts to quickly deal with victims. At the time she said such provisions already existed within the law and what was needed was more public awareness. This was followed in January by a police report noting that at least 100 women had been raped and another 10 murdered during the festive season - this caused public outrage with many lashing out at her on social media over the issue. The minister reiterated - on several occasions, including before parliament in March - that Botswana had many laws and strategies in place and what was important was to ensure these they were actually applied. But she told the BBC the government would be pushing for the implementation of a Gender-Based Violence Act, aimed at closing legal loopholes that have long hindered justice for survivors. She said she was also advocating a more holistic approach, involving the ministries of health, education and local government. "We want curriculums that promote gender equity from a young age," Chombo said. "We want to teach children what gender-based violence is and how to prevent it. "It will boil down to inclusion of teaching gender equity at home, how parents behave around their children, how they model good behaviour." She has also been vocal about the need to address issues affecting men, particularly around mental health and positive masculinity, encouraging chiefs "to ensure that our patriarchal culture is not actively perpetuating gender violence". "I hear a lot of people say: 'Why do you speak of women more than men?' "It's because as it stands in society, women are mostly prejudiced [against]. "But when we speak of gender equality, we're saying that it should be applied equally for everyone. But what we strive for is gender equity." Chombo, who studied law at the University of Botswana, said she was thankful to her mother and other strong women for inspiring her - saying that women had to work "10 times harder" to succeed. "[My mother] has managed to create an environment for me to thrive. And growing up, I got to realise that it's not an easy thing. "As women, we face so many pressures: 'A woman cannot do this. A woman can't do that. A woman can't be young and in leadership.' I'm currently facing that." She also credited Julia Morley, the CEO of Miss World, for helping her: "She has managed to create a legacy of what we call beauty with a purpose for so many young girls across the world. "She has just inspired us so deeply to take up social responsibility." Chombo is serious about this. The beauty queen-cum-lawyer-cum-minister knows she has made history - but is also aware that her real work has only just begun. "Impact. Tangible impact. That's what success would look like to me," she said. "I want to look back and see that it is there and it is sustainable. That when I leave, someone else is able to carry it through." Additional reporting from Innocent Selatlhwa in Gaborone 'Without sport I'd probably be a criminal' - Olympic champion Tebogo Botswana's politician who did the unthinkable Why voters fall out of love with liberation movements Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Proud to be young' - Beauty queen, lawyer and Botswana's youngest cabinet minister
Lesego Chombo's enthusiasm for life is as infectious as her achievements are impressive: she has won the Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024 crowns, is a working lawyer, has set up her own charitable foundation - and made history in November, becoming Botswana's youngest cabinet minister. She was just 26 years old at the time - and had clearly impressed Botswana's incoming President Duma Boko, whose Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had just won a landslide, ousting the party that had governed for 58 years. It was a seismic shift in the politics of the diamond-rich southern African nation - and Boko, a 55-year-old Harvard-trained lawyer, hit the ground running. His main focus, he said, was fixing an economy too reliant on diamonds, telling the BBC ahead of his inauguration that he wanted young people to be the solution - "to become entrepreneurs, employ themselves and employ others". Key to this was finding a suitable ambassador - and Chombo was clearly it: a young woman already committed to various causes. He made her minister of youth and gender. "I've never been more proud to be young," she told the BBC at the ministry's headquarters in the capital, Gaborone. "I'm a young person living in Botswana, passionate about youth development, gender equality, but also so passionate about the development of children." The beauty queen did not campaign to be an MP - she is what is called a specially elected member of parliament - and is now one of just six female MPs in the 69-member National Assembly. Chombo said becoming an MP and then minister came as a complete surprise to her. "I got appointed by a president who had never met me," she said. "Miss World and the journey that I thought I was supposed to pursue as my final destination was only the platform through which I would be seen for this very role." It was her crowning as Miss Botswana in 2022 that raised her profile and enabled her to campaign for social change, while trying to inspire other young women. It also gave her the opportunity to set up the Lesego Chombo Foundation, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged youngsters and their parents in rural areas – and which she is still involved with, its projects funded by corporate companies and others. "We strive to have a world where we feel seen and heard and represented. I'm very thrilled that I happen to be the very essence of that representation," she said. As she prepared for last year's Miss World pageant, she said: "I really put myself in the zone of service. I really channelled it for this big crown." Now in political office, she is aware of the expectations placed on her in a country where approximately 60% of the population is below 35 years. It also has a high level of unemployment - 28%, which is even higher for young people and women who have limited economic opportunities and battle systemic corruption. Chombo said this was something she was determined to change: "Currently in Botswana, the rates of unemployment are so high. "But it's not just the rate of unemployment, it's also just the sphere of youth development. "It's lacking, and so my desire is to create an ecosystem, an environment, a society, an economy in which youth can thrive." Chombo said her plan was to develop a comprehensive system that nurtured youth-led initiatives, strengthened entrepreneurship and ensured young people had a seat at the table when decisions were being made. With Botswana's anti-corruption policy undergoing a rigorous review, she said this would ensure that quotas for young entrepreneurs - when state departments and agencies put out tenders for goods and services - were actually reached. The government has begun a 10-month forensic audit of government spending that will include 30 state-owned enterprises. Indeed President Boko is intent on cracking down on corruption, seeing this as a way to bolter investor confidence and diversify the economy - something his deputy has been seeking to do on recent trips to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Switzerland. And a key deal has now been secured with UAE-based CCI Global, a provider of business process outsourcing, to open a hub in Botswana. While youth development is a central pillar of her work, gender equity also remains close to her heart. Her short time in office has coincided with a growing outcry over gender-based violence. According to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report, over 67% of women in Botswana have experienced abuse, more than double the global average. "It hurts to know that it could be me next," she admitted. A month into her appointment, she was criticised for voting against an opposition motion in parliament to create "peace desks" at police stations and magistrate courts to quickly deal with victims. At the time she said such provisions already existed within the law and what was needed was more public awareness. This was followed in January by a police report noting that at least 100 women had been raped and another 10 murdered during the festive season - this caused public outrage with many lashing out at her on social media over the issue. The minister reiterated - on several occasions, including before parliament in March - that Botswana had many laws and strategies in place and what was important was to ensure these they were actually applied. But she told the BBC the government would be pushing for the implementation of a Gender-Based Violence Act, aimed at closing legal loopholes that have long hindered justice for survivors. She said she was also advocating a more holistic approach, involving the ministries of health, education and local government. "We want curriculums that promote gender equity from a young age," Chombo said. "We want to teach children what gender-based violence is and how to prevent it. "It will boil down to inclusion of teaching gender equity at home, how parents behave around their children, how they model good behaviour." She has also been vocal about the need to address issues affecting men, particularly around mental health and positive masculinity, encouraging chiefs "to ensure that our patriarchal culture is not actively perpetuating gender violence". "I hear a lot of people say: 'Why do you speak of women more than men?' "It's because as it stands in society, women are mostly prejudiced [against]. "But when we speak of gender equality, we're saying that it should be applied equally for everyone. But what we strive for is gender equity." Chombo, who studied law at the University of Botswana, said she was thankful to her mother and other strong women for inspiring her - saying that women had to work "10 times harder" to succeed. "[My mother] has managed to create an environment for me to thrive. And growing up, I got to realise that it's not an easy thing. "As women, we face so many pressures: 'A woman cannot do this. A woman can't do that. A woman can't be young and in leadership.' I'm currently facing that." She also credited Julia Morley, the CEO of Miss World, for helping her: "She has managed to create a legacy of what we call beauty with a purpose for so many young girls across the world. "She has just inspired us so deeply to take up social responsibility." Chombo is serious about this. The beauty queen-cum-lawyer-cum-minister knows she has made history - but is also aware that her real work has only just begun. "Impact. Tangible impact. That's what success would look like to me," she said. "I want to look back and see that it is there and it is sustainable. That when I leave, someone else is able to carry it through." Additional reporting from Innocent Selatlhwa in Gaborone 'Without sport I'd probably be a criminal' - Olympic champion Tebogo Botswana's politician who did the unthinkable Why voters fall out of love with liberation movements Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Lesego Chombo: Miss World Africa beauty queen and Botswana's youngest cabinet minister
Lesego Chombo's enthusiasm for life is as infectious as her achievements are impressive: she has won the Miss Botswana 2022 and Miss World Africa 2024 crowns, is a working lawyer, has set up her own charitable foundation - and made history in November, becoming Botswana's youngest cabinet was just 26 years old at the time - and had clearly impressed Botswana's incoming President Duma Boko, whose Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) had just won a landslide, ousting the party that had governed for 58 was a seismic shift in the politics of the diamond-rich southern African nation - and Boko, a 55-year-old Harvard-trained lawyer, hit the ground main focus, he said, was fixing an economy too reliant on diamonds, telling the BBC ahead of his inauguration that he wanted young people to be the solution - "to become entrepreneurs, employ themselves and employ others".Key to this was finding a suitable ambassador - and Chombo was clearly it: a young woman already committed to various made her minister of youth and gender."I've never been more proud to be young," she told the BBC at the ministry's headquarters in the capital, Gaborone."I'm a young person living in Botswana, passionate about youth development, gender equality, but also so passionate about the development of children."The beauty queen did not campaign to be an MP - she is what is called a specially elected member of parliament - and is now one of just six female MPs in the 69-member National said becoming an MP and then minister came as a complete surprise to her."I got appointed by a president who had never met me," she said."Miss World and the journey that I thought I was supposed to pursue as my final destination was only the platform through which I would be seen for this very role."It was her crowning as Miss Botswana in 2022 that raised her profile and enabled her to campaign for social change, while trying to inspire other young also gave her the opportunity to set up the Lesego Chombo Foundation, which focuses on supporting disadvantaged youngsters and their parents in rural areas – and which she is still involved with, its projects funded by corporate companies and others."We strive to have a world where we feel seen and heard and represented. I'm very thrilled that I happen to be the very essence of that representation," she said. As she prepared for last year's Miss World pageant, she said: "I really put myself in the zone of service. I really channelled it for this big crown."Now in political office, she is aware of the expectations placed on her in a country where approximately 60% of the population is below 35 also has a high level of unemployment - 28%, which is even higher for young people and women who have limited economic opportunities and battle systemic said this was something she was determined to change: "Currently in Botswana, the rates of unemployment are so high."But it's not just the rate of unemployment, it's also just the sphere of youth development."It's lacking, and so my desire is to create an ecosystem, an environment, a society, an economy in which youth can thrive."Chombo said her plan was to develop a comprehensive system that nurtured youth-led initiatives, strengthened entrepreneurship and ensured young people had a seat at the table when decisions were being Botswana's anti-corruption policy undergoing a rigorous review, she said this would ensure that quotas for young entrepreneurs - when state departments and agencies put out tenders for goods and services - were actually government has begun a 10-month forensic audit of government spending that will include 30 state-owned President Boko is intent on cracking down on corruption, seeing this as a way to bolter investor confidence and diversify the economy - something his deputy has been seeking to do on recent trips to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and a key deal has now been secured with UAE-based CCI Global, a provider of business process outsourcing, to open a hub in Botswana. While youth development is a central pillar of her work, gender equity also remains close to her short time in office has coincided with a growing outcry over gender-based to a United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) report, over 67% of women in Botswana have experienced abuse, more than double the global average."It hurts to know that it could be me next," she admitted.A month into her appointment, she was criticised for voting against an opposition motion in parliament to create "peace desks" at police stations and magistrate courts to quickly deal with the time she said such provisions already existed within the law and what was needed was more public was followed in January by a police report noting that at least 100 women had been raped and another 10 murdered during the festive season - this caused public outrage with many lashing out at her on social media over the minister reiterated - on several occasions, including before parliament in March - that Botswana had many laws and strategies in place and what was important was to ensure these they were actually she told the BBC the government would be pushing for the implementation of a Gender-Based Violence Act, aimed at closing legal loopholes that have long hindered justice for said she was also advocating a more holistic approach, involving the ministries of health, education and local government."We want curriculums that promote gender equity from a young age," Chombo said."We want to teach children what gender-based violence is and how to prevent it."It will boil down to inclusion of teaching gender equity at home, how parents behave around their children, how they model good behaviour." She has also been vocal about the need to address issues affecting men, particularly around mental health and positive masculinity, encouraging chiefs "to ensure that our patriarchal culture is not actively perpetuating gender violence"."I hear a lot of people say: 'Why do you speak of women more than men?'"It's because as it stands in society, women are mostly prejudiced [against]."But when we speak of gender equality, we're saying that it should be applied equally for everyone. But what we strive for is gender equity."Chombo, who studied law at the University of Botswana, said she was thankful to her mother and other strong women for inspiring her - saying that women had to work "10 times harder" to succeed."[My mother] has managed to create an environment for me to thrive. And growing up, I got to realise that it's not an easy thing."As women, we face so many pressures: 'A woman cannot do this. A woman can't do that. A woman can't be young and in leadership.' I'm currently facing that."She also credited Julia Morley, the CEO of Miss World, for helping her: "She has managed to create a legacy of what we call beauty with a purpose for so many young girls across the world."She has just inspired us so deeply to take up social responsibility."Chombo is serious about this. The beauty queen-cum-lawyer-cum-minister knows she has made history - but is also aware that her real work has only just begun."Impact. Tangible impact. That's what success would look like to me," she said."I want to look back and see that it is there and it is sustainable. That when I leave, someone else is able to carry it through."Additional reporting from Innocent Selatlhwa in Gaborone You may also be interested in: 'Without sport I'd probably be a criminal' - Olympic champion TebogoBotswana's politician who did the unthinkableWhy voters fall out of love with liberation movements Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
