Pageants have always been identified with nudity and skimpy dressing, among other things. Pageants have never been associated with Christianity or any religion for that matter.

But in the words of former beauty queen Vehae Tjiriange, beauty pageants are rooted in the history of the Christian faith.

The Miss Malaika Botswana 2005 reveals that according to the Bible, Esther (in the Old Testament) was a beauty queen who participated and won a beauty pageant.

"Esther was beautiful. People liked her.

She had the Lord's favour on her life. She was an orphan in a foreign country and went on to win the beauty pageant," she said.

It is against this biblical backdrop that Tjiriange, a Christian herself, has organised what she terms 'Queen Esther International Beauty Pageant' aimed at providing a platform for Christian women to contest in a beauty pageant that upholds godly values.The pageant, she said, is a celebration and the ultimate expression of true beauty, intelligence and integrity.

She explains that "it is a search for the most inwardly and outwardly beautiful and good role model for this generation. Young people need women who display the fear of God and have grown into skilled, educated, articulate and productive members of society," she said.

She said that the chosen queen would be groomed to share Christian values. The queen, she added, would also be expected to act as an ambassador at national and international forums. She said through the pageant she intends to draw attention to issues like HIV/AIDS, poverty, the plight of abused women, orphans, widows and street children.Since the pageant is Christian-oriented, she noted, decent attire will be used for all the segments.

There will be no swimsuits and the contestants will be expected to behave in a respectable manner.

It is common knowledge that most beauty queens after winning a title just slip into oblivion and do not benefit from their 'princely' victory. Tjiriange however says that this pageant will be different in such a way that "after the pageant they will become influential members of the society, occupying powerful positions.

They will be offered intensive training to groom them for the future," she explained.She said that a plan is underway to reach out to Christian youth organisations, Scripture Union, Christian Union and others. Auditions will be held in Francistown, Maun and Gaborone, where the national pageant will also be held on September 2, this year.