ALTHOUGH Mafeteng-based Nthabeleng Molelengoane lost by count of votes in the popular 2022 Mr and Miss Culture Lesotho beauty pageant, she however emerged a winner in her own unique way.

The management of the competition offered her a consolation cash prize of M1 000 for her amazing determination during the preliminary stage of the competition that began in May.
"She has become synonymous with being position one or two since the competition started. For her to have achieved 7 006 votes in May and 4 580 within a week’s time in June, is a true testament of her popularity and hard work.
“This is the dedicated contestant who took time away from her pharmaceutical studies, knocking door-to-door at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) campus, asking people to vote for her," the management of the pageant said.
Butha- Buthe-born Paballo Mokheseng beat Molelengoane by 178 votes (4 767 against 4 589).

She pocketed M2 000 in first prize after emerging as the winner of the competition under the King Moshoeshoe Film Festival.

A closer look at the total scores shows that the competition was a whole stronger and tighter for the first position in the female category than it was in the male section.  
Both Mokheseng and Molelengoane collected over 7 000 votes each, while the number one male contestant, Neo Jeremiah Mahula received 5 828 votes, followed by Sello Nyamane with 4 713 votes.