Miss Earth sponsor not found

Miss SD Tiffany Simelane

IT is still not clear whether Miss Swaziland Tiffany Simelane will participate in the environmentally oriented 'beauties for a cause' Miss Earth 2009 pageant.

This is one of the three largest and most prestigious beauty pageants in the world promoting environmental awareness and works closely with the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP).
 Miss Swaziland licence holder Vinah Mamba-Grey said they were still not sure if Simelane will participate in this year's event (Miss Earth 2009) due to lack of sponsorship.
"We would love to have Miss SD participating in this event as we were given an invitation but the problem is where do we get the funding. Mine is just to appeal to companies for support so that we send Simelane to the event," she said.
Her concern was triggered by the fact that they were invited to bring Simelane to the Miss Earth pageant.
Mamba-Gray added that without a sound sponsorship, it was tough for them as organisers to send the girls to some of these international competitions.
She said if they could get a sponsor in time, Simelane could participate in the event.
"The problem is getting sponsorship on time and if we can get a sponsor, I do not think sending Simelane to participate in the event would be a problem," she said.
John Soul of Miss Earth Foundation said Tiffany could be an instrument to promote Swaziland to the world.
"We would love to see Simelane paricipating in the environmentally oriented 'beauties for a cause' Miss Earth pageant," said Soul.
He said their work was to increase the level of awareness on the current environmental issues and what action can be done through power of broadcasting and other media campaigns locally, nationally and globally.
"We also organise campaigns and promote projects for Miss Earth winners, as well as candidates to be able to reach out to the masses and encourage them to be responsible in caring and preserving the environment locally, nationally and globally (such as organising forums and symposiums)," he said.
Soul said they wanted to build strong community ties in every community projects Miss Earth creates and would teach the value of appreciation towards nature and quality of life.
Miss Earth 2009, the 9th Miss Earth beauty pageant, will be held in the November in a place to be determined first by the Miss Earth Organisation.