Thata Kenosi, the newly crowned Miss Botswana, risks losing her slot in the upcoming Miss World pageant following allegations that she has tattoos on her body, according to Mmegi Online.
The 21-year-old beauty queen caused a stir in Botswana on Monday after it emerged that she has a tattoo across her neck and on her right rib. Kenosi has refused to confirm or deny the allegations, however, saying people should not focus on the controversy and negativity.
“I followed and met the requirements. I am of the right height, weight, and I have met all the other requirements,” she told Mmegi Online.
Asked to comment on the existence of tattoos on Kenosi’s body, Miss Botswana 2016 spokesperson Tshepo Maphanyane said she doesn’t know if the beauty queen has any body art because she hasn’t seen it.
Eligibility
According to the rules of eligibility, all Miss Botswana contestants should not have given birth or married and must not have any visible body art.
Miss World regulations on the other hand stipulate that all contestants should have no visible body ink, especially tattoos.
Many now fear that the allegations of tattoos leveled against Miss Botswana could jeopardize her opportunity to participate in the upcoming Miss World competition, slated for November in Washington D.C.
They say she will have to cover her body for the entire month she will be competing in Washington D.C, which is likely to abate her chances of winning the coveted title.
Serving Humanity
Whoever is crowned Miss World 2016 will become the ambassador of “Beauty with a Purpose,” a program that aims to raise awareness and funds to support humanitarian projects around the world.
“Since the Beauty with a Purpose ethos was incorporated into Miss World, millions of pounds have been raised and countless hours of hard work have been carried out across the globe,” Miss World organizers claim on their website.
Kenosi says she will focus on poetry as a way of encouraging young Batswanas to put more effort in transforming their lives.
