A little over a month after being crowned Miss Lesotho, Reitumetse Makara (RM) is already looking beyond the glamour of the title, with a vision centred on mental health advocacy, youth empowerment and representing Lesotho on the international stage.
Makara succeeds Refiloe Makoae, who was crowned in 2024 and continued to hold the title through 2025, when no new Miss Lesotho was crowned. During her extended reign, Makoae also represented Lesotho at Miss Cosmo 2025, inspiring the next queen to pursue her own pageant journey.
For Makara, the crown represents more than personal achievement. Having studied psychology, she hopes to use her platform to address mental health stigma, create safe spaces for people struggling with mental health challenges and bridge the gap between mental health awareness and Basotho culture.
Newsday Arts writer Chris Theko (CT), set down with the the new Miss Lesotho in this interview, as she reflects on her coronation, following in Makoae’s footsteps, the responsibilities of the crown and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
CT: It has been a little over a month since you were crowned Miss Lesotho. Looking back, how would you describe that moment?
RM: A month later, the moment still feels unreal. I witnessed my dream come true in real time, and living it has been nothing short of amazing.
CT: When your name was announced as the winner, what was the first thought that went through your mind?
RM: “I made it.” There was a lot going through my head at that time, so many emotions, but the one thought that stayed with me and stood out the most was the fact that I had made it.
CT: Becoming Miss Lesotho comes with a lot of excitement, but also expectations. What has been the biggest adjustment for you since taking on the title?
RM: When I competed for the title, I knew there would be responsibilities that came with winning. Now that I have won, I have realised that I do not just carry a title; I carry the responsibility of representing what a Mosotho girl is and can be.
This has made me more intentional with my platform, my time and my energy. It is a responsibility I intend to carry with grace and pride.
CT: You are taking over from Refiloe Makoae, who had an unusually long reign after there was no crowning in 2025. Does following someone who held the title for that long add any pressure?
RM: The honest answer is that, yes, there is some pressure, but also inspiration. Refiloe carried the crown for so long with so much grace, and I imagine it required incredible dedication and resilience.
Her reign was what inspired me to finally seize the opportunity to chase my dream. She kept the legacy alive, allowing me to step into the foundation she laid and carry it forward.
CT: Refiloe also represented Lesotho at Miss Cosmo 2025. How closely did you follow her journey, and what did you learn from watching her represent the country internationally?
RM: As I mentioned, Refiloe was the final push that led me to pursue the crown. Watching her represent our country was incredible. You could almost see and feel just how much love and pride she carried for Lesotho.
She told Lesotho’s story beautifully. She taught me that authenticity carries a lot of weight internationally. It is not just about the walks and the glamour, but about allowing your country’s story to be told through you.
CT: Do you see yourself continuing any of the work or initiatives started during Refiloe’s reign, or do you want to establish a completely different identity as Miss Lesotho?
RM: I have the utmost respect for Refiloe’s work during her reign. She cemented her place in the legacy of Miss Lesotho and what the brand represents, and I believe it is important to honour the foundation laid by every queen.
I also believe that each queen is chosen for a specific purpose and a specific season. My story, purpose, journey and passion have led me to mental health. It is a pressing issue affecting so many of our people, and one that must finally be addressed and acknowledged.
I will always celebrate and support the work of those who came before me, but I would also like my reign to have its own heartbeat.
CM: Every Miss Lesotho eventually has to answer the question: What does the crown actually mean to you?
RM: I could answer by saying it means everything, which it truly does. But this crown means permission, responsibility and representation.
Permission to be seen and to be a symbol of what it means to be a young Mosotho girl. The responsibility to carry the crown with dignity, not just for myself but for every young woman who dares to have a dream. It is a promise to serve and leave a lasting legacy of change and empowerment.
And then there is representation: representing who we are as a people and what we stand for.
CT: Beyond the glamour, what do you believe is the responsibility of Miss Lesotho?
RM: Miss Lesotho’s job begins when the lights go off. Yes, the stage and the glamour are a huge part of it, but the real work begins afterwards.
As Miss Lesotho, my responsibilities are to preserve our culture, serve with the intention of creating real change, be a voice and stand for what I truly believe in.
Anyone can wear a crown; the idea, however, is to leave Lesotho a little better than when I first wore it.
CT: What issues or causes are particularly important to you, and how do you intend to use the Miss Lesotho platform to address them?
RM: The most important cause to me is mental health. Our country lacks resources when it comes to mental health, which was one of the main reasons I studied psychology.
I cannot practise just yet, and because I do not want to wait any longer for change, I believe this platform can be used effectively to break the silence.
One of the main reasons mental health is so stigmatised and misunderstood is that it is rarely spoken about. Once we start the conversation, we can learn what it truly means and build the bridges needed to educate people and integrate mental health information into our language and culture so that no one is left behind.
I want to create a safe space for anyone struggling with mental health and help educate people about everyday tools they can use without stigma or shame.
CT: Pageantry has changed significantly, particularly with social media giving contestants and titleholders a direct relationship with the public. How do you intend to use your digital platforms during your reign?
RM: Social media can be an extraordinary way to connect when used correctly. I would like to use my platform to be real, not perfect, but authentic.
I want it to reflect who I am and what I love. I want it to be a platform that educates, not just entertains. I would also like to use my page as a safe space where I can build a community.
I want to be seen, but also to be felt, and to build meaningful connections.
CT: There is often a lot of public scrutiny that comes with wearing a national crown. How prepared are you for criticism, expectations and the pressure that comes with being in the public eye?
RM: There is a saying that goes, “Heavy is the head that wears the crown.” I never quite understood it until now.
A title like this comes with its joys and positives, but it also comes with scrutiny. I came into Miss Lesotho with a clear purpose, and I have built a strong foundation. I believe that foundation is enough to drown out any noise.
Criticism is bound to come, but my focus is not on that; my focus will be on my intended purpose. I do not intend to be perfect, but I intend to be willing to serve, especially under pressure.
CT: What do you think people misunderstand most about beauty queens?
RM: I do think there is still a perception that it is all about beauty, walks and so on, when in reality, there is so much more that goes into it. Being a beauty queen comes with discipline and structure.
CT: Do you believe Miss Lesotho should primarily be a beauty title, or has the role evolved into something much bigger?
RM: No. In fact, if it were just about beauty, I believe the entire thing would end on the night of the crowning.
Miss Lesotho should be a platform that is used to create and seize opportunities. It should help bring positive change, nurture resilience and develop leadership. It should be a platform that helps women flourish in their endeavours.
CT: International representation is another major responsibility that comes with the title. Are there particular international pageants you hope to compete in, and what would representing Lesotho on that stage mean to you?
RM: One of the reasons I decided to join Miss Lesotho was to be able to represent our country internationally. I would love to follow in the footsteps of one of our previous queens and compete at Miss Cosmo.
To me, international representation means being seen, and not just competing. It is about carrying much more than myself; it is about carrying everything that my country represents.
It would mean telling the correct story about Lesotho: that it is a country with a rich and deep culture, a beautiful language and profound values. I do not just want to appear on the international stage; I want Lesotho to be remembered long after I leave it.
CT: What would you like to achieve during your reign that would make you look back at the end of the year and say, “I used this crown well”?
RM: The ultimate goal is to leave lasting and real change. Mental health advocacy is incredibly important to me, and it is what I would mainly like to focus on.
I would love for my country to finally address the crises that have been going on for so long but have somehow been sidelined, or at least not addressed in the way they should be.
I would love to use my degree and this platform to create safe spaces for mental health care and educate people, particularly young people, about mental health and what it truly means, because we cannot change a problem we do not understand.
I would love to build a bridge between our culture and mental health.
CT: Finally, what would you like to say to Basotho who supported you during the pageant and those who are now watching your journey as Miss Lesotho?
RM: The amount of support I have received throughout this journey has been incredibly humbling. I cannot express how grateful I am to everyone who has stood by me.
From my family, who encouraged me to start in the first place, to my friends, who believed in me immensely; my church members, who prayed for me; everyone who saw my videos and social media posts and decided to stand behind me; those who wrote encouraging comments and voted for me; my interviewers and mentors; and everyone who cheered for me as I walked the stage, all I can say is, from the bottom of my heart, Kea leboha.
Your support has been a source of strength. I hope to represent who we are by wearing this crown and carrying this title with dignity, pride and love.
Summary
- A little over a month after being crowned Miss Lesotho, Reitumetse Makara (RM) is already looking beyond the glamour of the title, with a vision centred on mental health advocacy, youth empowerment and representing Lesotho on the international stage.
- Newsday Arts writer Chris Theko (CT), set down with the the new Miss Lesotho in this interview, as she reflects on her coronation, following in Makoae’s footsteps, the responsibilities of the crown and the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
- ” There was a lot going through my head at that time, so many emotions, but the one thought that stayed with me and stood out the most was the fact that I had made it.
A Professional Communications practitioner with a wealth of expertise in marketing, public speaking, communication and media relations. I believe in learning everyday and improving one’s personal and professional capabilities.
* A former journalist and radio host who is passionate about media and it’s impact on society.
