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…she is nominated for the ‘African Children of the Year Awards’
Maun based young model, Shazia John has once again put Batswana on the world map of pageantry with her nomination for this year’s African Children of the Year Awards (ACOTYA) under 3 different categories namely Arts & Culture, Philanthropist, and the Community Development Engagements.
The awards, will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa tomorrow (November 18th, 2023, and the 9-year-old John is scheduled to be in attendance.
The young shining star has been representing the country since the young age of 5 and was recently in Thailand Bangkok where she was crowned Best Photogenic Idol and also received an award for a Rising Star at the Mini Miss Junior Idol World pageant.
The Annual African Children of the Year Awards is an initiative that was established in 2018 by the Stacey Fru Foundation Committee to empower and encourage children and adults to learn how to read and write. The Foundation also recognizes children aged between 7 to 13 across Africa, who are contributing positively to their community, country, and the continent, in a bid to glorify African gifts, promote Africa to Africans as a continent of choice.
Other children from different countries have also been nominated for the awards under different categories including the Safety and Security category, Entrepreneurship category, Special Mention, Arts and culture, Education and skills Development, Leadership, Philanthropy, Community Development, Motivational/Personal Development and the Sports and Recreation Categories.
John ‘s mother who is her biggest support system Naval Catherine John told The Weekender that her daughter just being nominated for the awards is a biggest achievement for her. Ahead of the awards, the mother indicated that they have been preparing the model both mentally and physically as well as her wardrobe.
She said Shazia is such an ambitious girl with the love for modelling adding that her family and friends are very supportive as they want to see her excelling and succeeding in her career.
The delighted mother expressed how proud she is of her daughter who juggles her modelling career with her school noting that she is doing so well in both. “Whether it be her studies or professional endeavours, she tackles challenges head-on with determination and a positive attitude. Shazia’s perseverance and commitment set her apart, making her a role model for others,” she commended.
The princess’ mother also revealed that as a Botswana native, Shazia has a deep appreciation for her cultural heritage and is proud of her roots and actively seeks opportunities to share her traditions and customs with others. “Shazia’s love for her homeland is evident in her warm and welcoming demeanor, as she warmly greets visitors and shares stories about the beauty and rich history of Botswana,” she said.
According to John, Shazia is an exceptional individual whose passion, intelligence, and cultural pride makes her an admirable representative of Botswana as she is inseparable from nature.
Among her successes, John holds titles comprising of Mini Princess World Botswana 2021, Mini Princess International Botswana 2021, Junior Kids & Teen International 2021, Mini Miss Photogenic at Princess International Botswana 2021, Best Creative National Costume at Princess International Botswana 2021 among others. She is also the founder of Mister and Miss Nature Conservancy, a pageant which uses talent and arts to give, care and protect nature.
