Mr Africa Junior crowned

Aiming much higher . . . Mpho Botha, the new Mr Junior Africa 2017

Adding his name to the growing list of young Free Staters who have made a mark on the international scene is Mpho Botha, who was crowned Mr Junior Africa 2017 last Saturday.

Botha defeated contestants from 10 countries to bag the heavily contested title at a glamorous event held at Protea Hotel OR Tambo International Airport.
What makes the victory even sweeter for the 16-year old was the fact that he was the youngest in the competition, with the majority of competitors aged between 17 and 18 years.

Botha competed in interviews, ramp modelling, and public speaking where he scored the highest number of points in all three categories and wooed the judges in the process.

The newly-crowned Mr. Junior Africa took to social media to express his excitement. “Say hey to the newly-crowned Mr Jnr Africa. I can’t believe I just won another title for South Africa,” he posted on his Facebook page.

The young lad later added, “Maybe we are built for far more than those limitations that surrounds our thinking.” This announcement saw messages of congratulations pour in for the young man, with friends and family wishing him well on his achievement.

Following his victory, Botha will represent South Africa at the Mr Teen Universe schedule for later this year and not shying away from his next challenge, he further wrote, “The next Mr Junior Universe.”

Botha is the founder and chairperson of the Mpho Charl Botha Diabetic foundation, a non-profit organisation that helps people living with diabetes, children in particular.

This was not Mpho’s huge win; last year he won the Mr Teen World title in Turkey, where he competed with participants from over 20 countries from around the world.