Representation is so important for those who never believed that social standards can be vanquished. For the little ones who need to grow up believin… - Palesa Molefe

Growing up I never quite fit into any click, I still dont. When I tried making friends in school it always felt like the group of girls I would try to befriend had made a pact or just didn't feel like I made the cut. That is what pageantry used to look like from the outside to me. Like a click of girls that didn't welcome anyone they felt didn't belong into their space. Which is why I want to take this moment to thank every single person who played a role, big and small to the contribution of pushing for inclusion of different representations of beauty in the pageant world.

Not only are the baskets of Botswana crucial in traditional rural life and can be traced through Botswana's history, the commercialization of this craft has resulted in a supplementary income for rural families, making the woven basket more valuable than ever.

But I stand here and say dream young child. Dream about life's infinite possibilities. Dream about walking into places you have never set foot, conversing with amazing people you never knew before and daring to give life your best shot.