Last week, we featured the story of wanderlust-stricken Richard Pillar. This week, we share the tale of a beautiful young woman whose love for life has led to her role as Miss Botswana and her responsibility as a role model for the people of her country.

From flatties to high heels, from jeans to gowns - the transformation I've experienced from being a scabby-kneed tomboy to a polished beauty queen has been truly amazing, incredible and off-course, of course.
Born September 17, 1986, I am the eldest of three siblings. I wish I could say I grew up wearing my mom's high heels, singing in front of the mirror, and just knowing I wanted to be a beauty queen, but the truth is that I was an absolute tomboy!
Growing up in the town of Ramotswa, Botswana, I'd get into scrapes and try things that challenged me, even if they were not always wise. I was a jeans-and-t-shirts girl through and through - I'd buy sneakers over heels any day. All through my days studying in South Africa or even when I tackled my degree in Limkokwing (in Botswana), I never walked down the hallways in stilettos, nor wore a long dress.
All that changed when my uncle quite literally tricked me into trying out for Miss Botswana!
While I had also done some modeling after I completed my secondary education, I had left it to pursue my studies. I studied Drama for a year in a university in South Africa, followed by Marketing. It wasn't until 2006 that I joined Limkokwing to study International Business and Marketing.
So there I was, an ordinary student, and suddenly my life changed from student to role model.
But I didn't mind - I did my absolute best to have fun! Having already participated in the Miss European Union pageant in 2004, it was not my first experience in pageantry and the contest of beauty, but it had yet to dawn on me the enormous responsibility that I held: That I am a public figure now, people are looking at me.
In addition to that, I've had the wonderful opportunity to travel to so many places: June 2009 was my Miss World experience - I went to London, Johannesburg and Abu Dhabi. It was undeniably one of the most memorable experiences of my life thus far - I made hundreds of friends in just a span of a few days.
Looking back I see how my culture has helped me cope with the role I have now - travelling all over the world for ChildLine, doing my best to help children in need and working to fight the problem of AIDS and HIV in my country.
My country and my culture places great emphasis on respect - how a person behaves, dresses, or speaks.
Botswana, for those who want to know more, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa and is one of the most economically flexible and successful countries in the region. The main languages spoken are Setswana and English, and she is an amazing country of independence and democracy, ever since she achieved independence in 1966. The rich culture of my country has shaped me into who I am today.
I cannot begin to say how pleased I am to be given a chance to experience all these amazing things: If you had asked me five years ago if I would ever come to this moment, here in Malaysia to launch the Botswana Art Exhibition by Limkokwing, I would have absolutely said no. Who'd have thought a tomboy like me will end up behind the camera, posing for beauty shots?
I would be so reluctant to hand my crown as Miss Botswana to the lucky young lady come May this year - but at the same time, I would be delighted that another young woman would be given the opportunity that was given to me. My life has been a road of opposites and surprises, and this is just the beginning.
And as I fly home to Botswana a few days from now, I will be eagerly awaiting what I can do for my homeland.