Libuseng Nolebengula clinches Miss Tradition Lesotho 2022 title

’MAKERESEMESE LETUKA

MASERU- The second edition of the Miss and Mr Tradition Lesotho was held at Memorial Hall where 20 contestants battled for the coveted crown. Libuseng Nolebengula left the event as the new Miss Tradition Lesotho 2022 while Eric Qatha clinched the Mr Tradition title, with Adeline Motlokoa being crowned Miss Tradition 1st runner-up. Maseeiso Nkhahle was the 2nd runner-up while Mr Tradition 1st runner-up was Bokang Lepota with Mpho Khiba as the 2nd runner-up.

The panel of judges comprised: Reatile Molefe, Miss Culture Lesotho; Mamorake Ntsiki, Miss Lesotho 2008 and Miss Integrity Lesotho 2006; Monare runway model, Makamohelo, Miss Easter Director; Agatha Nomonde Mpepa, Ultimate Radio; Nthabiseng Lucy Kolobe, author and actress; and, Thaabe, a poet and a Sotho kid model.

The ultimate prizes were sponsored by Royal Creations with traditional cakes for King and Queen and birthday celebration vouchers for all winners. There was also lunch with local celebrities like Omali Thamba and Morena Sway with a picnic from Mokherane Tsatsanyane a member of the parliament. A local radio station provided Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals for the winners, and M100 to King and Queen.

“We had a lot of audience but lack of sponsors gave me a hectic time, honestly. However, my four potential sponsors made it possible and lots of doors opened for the pageant and myself as an individual. I would not have made it if it was not because of my sponsors. “I would like to see the event and winners go on international pageants and Lesotho as the Host Country of Miss and Mr Tradition SADC in the next coming years,” said Maipato Mohloai, Director Miss and Mr Tradition Lesotho. The reigning Queen Libuseng Nolebengula said she was over the moon because her dream of becoming Miss Tradition Lesotho came true.

“My fullness is indescribable and it is a great pleasure for me to own this title. I am planning to prove to Basotho that our tradition means a lot to us by wearing our traditional attire always to encourage them not to lose hope in it. “I am also planning to visit schools to have a chat with students about how important it is to be in a pageant like this. I want to let them know about the empowering impact that comes with keeping their tradition as Basotho.

“I also need to be in higher position by competing with other pageants. I want to prove to Basotho that being proud and loving their tradition or country is important. Furthermore, I so wish to compete with other models on pageants from other countries to represent my country,” she said. This is the 2nd annual pageant after the first was held in 2019 and due to Covid 19 they were unable to host it in 2020 and 2021.