Meet The Optimistic Business Minded Young Lady
She is currently studying Bachelor of Science in Real Estate, a first year student at the University of Botswana. She is a model and the National Director\ Founder of Miss Teen Africa Botswana and also the owner of Lame’s Modelling Academy. Her name is Lame Leungo Jerry, born and raised in a small village called Maitengwe. She is a 19 year old very enthusiastic and business minded young lady who believes in hard work.
Lame started Miss Teen Africa Botswana when she was doing form 5. Immediately when she finished form 5, she started operating it, she opened a page for Miss Teen Africa Botswana and to her surprise people started liking it. According to her, it was not easy at first and it’s still not easy because sponsors in Botswana are scarce. So, Lame wrote letters and proposals to different companies (government and private) but had no luck and she also went to the BNYC to ask for sponsorship but unfortunately, she got rejected because they wanted her pageant to have at least two years or more experience in the industry, nonetheless, she never gave up though. In 2019 she hosted auditions and only three people showed up, at that moment she had paid for the venue but as time went by some people started showing interest and started registering and she ended up having ten contestants. In 2020, Lame was supposed to host the first ever Miss Teen Africa Botswana but they were hit by the Pandemic and the government declared lockdown in the country and then she postponed the event to 2021. According to Lame, this year she did the auditions online and over 60 girls registered and auditioned, now they have a coronation ceremony which will be on the 1st of May at Cresta President Hotel where they will be crowning the first ever Miss Teen Africa Botswana. Since she doesn’t have sponsors, she has been saving her school allowance so that she can prepare for the Grand Finale. In a nut shell, Lame’s journey was not a good one but she has learned to be patient in life and that not everything comes easy because one has to work really hard for everything to turn out great.
When she grew up, Lame loved pageants and modelling, she said that she used to watch Miss Botswana when she was young and would picture myself walking on the stage. Her passion for modelling and pageants grew as with time. When she was at pre-school on her graduation day, she joined the pageant at school and they were all given prizes. That was the best experience she ever had. She went on to her junior school and there was a pageant called Miss Parwe CJSS which she wanted to join but she was scared and not ready, although she ended up being the Master of Ceremony for the pageant. Lame said when she was doing form 4, her passion for modelling started kicking in so deep and she joined Miss Ledumang unfortunately she only scooped the title of Best Dress. She said she was a little disappointed but as she is, she doesn’t spend time crying for her losses, instead she finds ways to correct that and do better next time. “….without determination you will never start and without consistency you will never finish, I MOVE and now I am a freelance model. I advertise clothes and I am also a brand ambassador,” she added.
Besides being an organizer of Miss Teen Africa Botswana, Lame is also the founder of Lame’s Modelling Academy, she trains aspiring models and those that want to do better in the modelling industry. She also helps them to learn the ropes and acquire skills needed to become a successful and professional model, and to boost their confidence in general. According to her, “Modelling is such a competitive industry so learning the basics puts you at the top of the pile when it comes to booking jobs. Modelling is a highly vocational business. There is more to modelling than just a quirk poses or walk, luckily in my academy we cover everything from pose to pose, portfolios to personal care.” Lame is also working on a project which involves charity and giving called Lame Foundation. She helps the needy people together with her team. They make donations to families and children who are in need. The Project has not been launched yet but it is expected to be launched very soon.
Like she said on her introduction, Lame is a full time first year student at the university of Botswana, studying Real Estate.
When asked if she is in a relationship, Lame replied, “Yes, I am in a relationship with my best friend Khumo Pheko. We have a page on Facebook called Lelah and Canny, you can also check our Tik-tok videos and follow us on Tik-tok at lalahandcanny09. Imagine finding love and friendship in one person, best feeling ever ha-ha.”
Having said all the above, she said among the number of foods, Pizza is her favourite food because it tastes and smells fabulous. She added that the Pizza itself looks yummy and so cheesy, and she is always hungry for it, be it any time of the day.
At the end of this year, her wish is to achieve four strength areas that she personally wants, which specifically are; physical, mental, financially, and spiritual. She said that she wants to be well equipped and build in the said areas.
Replying the question about things that people don’t know about her, Lame said, “I am extremely annoying and boring to have a chat with. I always think of new ideas or businesses. Even when I am listening carefully, I am thinking of new ideas or solving a problem. Crazy right? I know ha-ha.”
Three words that best describes Lame:
Enthusiastic, Smart and Ambitious
About Miss Teen Africa Botswana:
Miss teen Africa Botswana is a beauty and talent show pageant showcasing young women aged 14- 19 years of Botswana origin and will represent Botswana at the main event together with the other 56 countries of Africa.
The pageant is the first of its kind and it is devoted to strengthen the voices and representation of the young females within the African community around the world with a greater emphasis on charitable deed.
The inauguration of the event in Botswana follows the need to have Botswana represented at an international level when the main event takes place. The expectation is that the event shall take place every year in the build up towards the main event.
The initiative is vital in unleashing talent for the young generation which is instrumental to the new governments new vision on transformational especially towards knowledge-based economy and positioning Botswana as a destination of choice. With the event, there is high likelihood of participants from other interested countries to attend the event including modelling companies which often select their models from events such as this one.
With the support of various stakeholders, the event is expected to take place on the 1st of May at a venue yet to be identified and announced. Having been appointed a National Director for the pageant, the intention is to collaborate with a renowned event organizing company in organizing the event whilst building long term institutional structures for the annual event.
- Vision
The vision for Miss Teen Africa Botswana is to unleash talent from young Batswana in a transparent manner and build their capacity to compete nationally, regionally and internationally according to established standards.
- Mission
Miss teen Africa Botswana is devoted to championing the proliferation and continuation of culture, self-worth, confidence, validity, gender equality and empowerment of women, social inclusion and a feeling of belonging amongst women of African descent in Botswana in showcasing talent, intellect and grace through the contestant platform.
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Duncan Sebeso