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18 November 2022 | Story Anthony Mthembu | Photo Supplied
Lerato Pitso
Lerato Pitso, who will represent Lesotho in the Miss Supranational competition in 2023.

Lerato Pitso, a Bachelor of Social Sciences student at the University of the Free State (UFS), has been selected to represent her home country of Lesotho in the prestigious Miss Supranational competition, which will be held in Poland in 2023. “I’m still nervous about the fact that I have been selected to represent my country in this competition. However, the selection means that I have a lot of people who actually believe in me,” Pitso stated.

Miss Supranational

Miss Supranational is an internationally recognised beauty pageant overseen by the World Beauty Association.This is the third time that a UFS student has participated in this international competition. Earlier this year Boitumelo Sehlotho, a Bachelor of Accounting student at the UFS, who was also named the Face of Lesotho in 2019, represented her country at the Miss Supranational pageant 2022.  Thato Mosehle, a graduate from the Faculty of Health Sciences, was runner-up in the Miss Supranational pageant held in Poland in 2021.

Pitso perceives the pageant as a platform to encourage young women to do more to change the world. She was selected to represent Lesotho in the competition based on the contributions she made in and around her community.

Community Engagement

Pitso’s community engagement includes participation in a digital inclusion campaign in Lesotho. “The campaign intended to involve accountable ministries in addressing technological issues to empower students with technological skills to be competent for the global environment. Pitso was also involved in the Meal in a Jar initiative, which was run by the Office for International Affairs at the UFS. Through this initiative, high school learners in the Grassland community in Bloemfontein were taught to recycle materials, and to produce new products which they could then sell for profit. “The project aimed to spark an entrepreneurial mindset,” said Pitso. In addition, she has also worked with the SHE-HIVE Association, a non-governmental organisation based in Maseru, Lesotho, which offers counselling and legal assistance to those who have been affected by gender-based violence. As such, Pitso asserts that she is the best to represent her nation based on the work she has put in.

Preparing for the Miss Supranational stage

Pitso said getting ready for a competition of this magnitude is a huge undertaking. “Preparation for the big stage includes rigorous training in which one learns to walk in a certain manner, and a commitment to the gym in order to be physically fit for the competition.” She also asserts that taking care of her mental health is a priority before walking on that stage.

It is also important to note that the last two winners of the competition are from Africa, and this serves as motivation for Pitso. “The fact that people who come from a similar society to me could attain the prize makes me believe in myself. It means that it’s also possible for me to put in the work and excel in the competition,” she said.

News Archive

Free State Arts Festival and the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French (UFS) launches first crossword tournament in SA
2016-06-14

History will be made at the Free State Arts Festival, which will this year be held in Bloemfontein from 11 to 16 July. For the first time ever in South Africa, a Crossword Tournament will be presented for the public, where Afrikaans word and language lovers can test their knowledge and speed against other competitors.

With the help of the Department of Afrikaans and Dutch, German and French, as well as Xword, the RSG Crossword Tournament will be presented on the university’s campus. In several knockout rounds on Friday 15 July, contestants will have to complete three different types of crosswords compiled by the experienced crossword team at XWord.  Points will be awarded according to a formula measuring accuracy and speed. The top ten contestants will go through to a semi-final on Saturday 16 July, after which three finalists will be selected to compete against each other in the Grand Finale. 

Apart from the coveted title, DIE RSG BLOKRAAIKAMPIOEN, prizes which are up for grabs include a year’s access to the news platforms of Netwerk24 for all three finalists, a variety of dictionaries from Pharos and Longman-HAT, a wide range of crossword books published by LAPA, and many more.

Interested persons can find more information about the RSG Crossword Tournament at www.xword.co.za. Links are also provided to free crosswords which can be printed to practice ahead of the tournament. Interested people are requested to send their names, cellphone numbers, and Email addresses to Albe Grobbelaar at XWord in advance in order to facilitate the planning for the expected number of participants. The address is albegrobbelaar@gmail.com

The cost for participants is R50, which is payable on the day of the elimination rounds at the venue on campus, South Block 1. The entrance fee includes a copy of XWord’s popular book, AfriBlokkies Blokkiesraaisels.

(Further inquiries: Albe Grobbelaar – 082 447 1900)

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