Get to know your host.
we had a chat with the director of miss Gorgeous pretoria, Billie Mongwe and here are some of the few question we had to ask him.
article credits go to Faith Maimela, Mapule Sidibe
Describe what Miss Gorgeous brand is
1. Miss Gorgeous Pretoria is a beauty pageant aimed to help young girls around Gauteng province unleash their talents in modeling in modeling and train them to become professional models.
Why did you come up with this pageant.
2. Reason we came up with this brand called Miss Gorgeous Pretoria is that Pretoria is a beautiful city and full of beautiful people, surrounded by beautiful townships. So we thought of coming up with a brand that will make every girl feel special and beautiful at the same time. Again, knowing that there are so many pageants in the city and the province, we wanted all those beautiful Queens to compete amongst each other.
How did you start putting everything into action?
3. It wasn't easy at all to put everything in actions, especially when you don't have sponsors and income, but by God's grace my family helped me there and there to make meet points.
Who else was involved?
4. My late lil sister was more involved and may her soul rest in peace. Others are just sponsors and my friends who support me whenever I need their help.
In what ways did those involved help you/ create challenges for you?
5. I remember this other year I involved some people who offered to help and later on demanded payments and the pageant does not have money. They changed Instagram password and demanded payment in exchange for passwords, I gave them money but I decided to create a new account. Others who helped, played an important role in a form monetary and offering their services. I appreciate them always.
How did your friends and family react. Did you get any support from any special person and who?
6. My family they are supportive and no year they have ever missed my event, sometimes they help me financially and my friends also. They believe in me and the brand.
What were you looking for on the contestants?
8. Someone who believes in herself and able to change people's lives. A good role model. Not just beautiful, but beauty with brains.
What is it that you expect from the reigning title holders?
9. Expectations from the reigning Queens is for them to take the brand to another level. Our previous Queen Lesley-Anne really put us on the map and she left a gap. So we looking forward to see our Queen Tsholofelo doing wonders as well and putting on the map.
Tell me the biggest thing you expect from the reigning Queen.
10. Nothing much just hardwork and team work.
Do you have any activities that your brand offer to the community?
11. Yes, we do have.
What was the most significant moment during [event]?
12. When is time for crowning. That moment alone is important cause we all wondering who took the crown and will that person represent us well in the public.
What is the biggest challenge you have ever faced regarding the title holders?
13. Some don't want to participate, they want to be told what to do. They forget that they are titles holders and always want to be reminded what to do. It is their responsibility as well to represent the brand where they go.
In what way (ways) are you a different brand today because of [event]?
14. Our pageant does not have auditions like other pageants and our judges are not allowed to be publicly announced. Trying to avoid the fact that someone might be in the competition and have good relationship with one/two judges, meaning automatically the judges will have influence towards other judges for that person to win.
Name the top two or three qualities you learned from your experience.
16. I learned that I should never trust anyone saying they want to sponsor without proof, 2. I learned not to accept free services cause it end up making me look unprofessional. 3. Never tag/promote people without any formal contract in terms of sponsorship.
What would you say to others who looks up to you?
17. Just believe in yourself cause if you don't, no one else will.
How does your experience reveal what Miss gorgeous [brand] is all about?
18. My experience means that Miss Gorgeous Pretoria is one of the most growing pageant.
Describe this brand with only one word.
19. Fairness
