Social Impact & Beauty Pageants: The Story of Lisa Matsoma
- hrandhawa93
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
“Ultimately, social impact grounded me in empathy, while pageantry refined my execution; together, they have shaped me into a leader who understands that influence is most powerful when it is intentional and service-driven”
- Abale Lisa Matsoma, Millennium Fellow class of 2024
For this International Women’s Day, we are highlighting one of our Millennium Fellowship Class of 2024 Campus Director and now alumni - Lisa Matsoma, a young leader, speaker, and a social impact advocate, who is enthusiastic about community change and youth development. She founded “Defying Odds”, a community-driven social impact program after her own experience of overcoming obstacles while attempting to pursue and apply her talents with minimal means. Lisa began the initiative in 2023 with a special goal - to give young people, especially those who, like Lisa, did not always have access to support or guidance, mentorship, opportunities and networks that could help them develop. “I learned resilience, adaptation, and the value of using whatever resources you have to move forward from my passion for pageantry, and this philosophy became the cornerstone of my career”, shared Lisa.
“Defying Odds” has developed over time and broadened its focus to empower and encourage even more young people by providing positive pathways, skill development opportunities, and mentorship. Lisa’s goal is to support youth in overcoming structural barriers and social obstacles. “I want to encourage a generation to confidently proclaim that through Defying Odds - against all odds, they rise!”, mentioned Lisa.
As a teenager, Lisa participated in Miss Teen Botswana competition in 2023 for the first time and earned the first runner-up spot. “My perspective was significantly altered by that incident, which taught me that pageantry did not offer me a voice but rather a responsibility - I realized that service is the foundation of a crown, and that genuine leadership starts with listening, taking in knowledge from communities, and letting those experiences influence your perspective and personal development,” she reflected. Though, before pageantry, as a young girl, Lisa battled anxieties about her looks and frequently internalized criticism of my height, body, and skin: “I went through a phase of introspection and deliberate self-improvement as a result of those events, concentrating on boosting my self-esteem, making investments in my health, and changing my perception of myself - I decided to face my concerns and overcome them when I tried out for my first pageant soon after that life-changing event”.
For her, earning a first runner-up spot in the competition, was a blessing in disguise: “It humbled me and gave me one of the most important lessons I still remember: Impact, not a crown, defines leadership; that insight gave me more purpose and prepared me for my next move, which was to compete in the Miss Botswana Organization. “I signed up not just to develop myself but also to learn how, as a young woman and potential international ambassador; I might close social gaps and make a significant difference in people's lives”. From her journey so far, Lisa recognized the importance of being courageous in order to grow, to learn, to fall and get back up. As each experience molds oneself into a more resilient, purposeful version: “I am determined to use my voice today to help others, especially young people who, like me, felt ignored in the past, realize their own strength, speak their truth, and boldly enter spaces where they belong”.
Pageantry transformed the way Lisa approaches social impact: “When I first entered Miss Teen Botswana in 2023, I perceived pageantry as primarily glitz and glamour. However, through mentorship, I discovered that true pageantry is rooted in advocacy, preparation, and purpose. I learned that a crown does not define leadership — impact does. That understanding strengthened my resolve to ensure that every platform I occupy translates into tangible value for the communities I serve”. Pageantry reminded her that leadership is not about visibility alone; it is about responsibility and humanity. While her social impact work taught her humility, patience, and the discipline of listening. Through Defying Odds, Lisa learned that meaningful advocacy begins not with speaking, but with understanding: “Immersing myself in communities and truly lending an ear allowed me to approach pageantry with depth rather than performance; it shaped the way I communicated my advocacy, using storytelling and media responsibly to reflect real experiences rather than surface narratives”.
This International Women’s Day 2026 Theme; “Give to Gain” in Lisa’s opinion, challenges young women to shift from a mindset of limitation to one of contribution: “In a world that often teaches us to compete and protect what we have, this theme reminds us that growth actually begins when we give; from my own journey with ‘Defying Odds’, I have learned that many young women hesitate to step into social impact because they believe they don’t have enough - not enough money, influence, or experience; but impact does not start with resources, it starts with willingness - you can give your time, your skills, your listening ear, or your creativity and that is enough”. Moreover, Lisa believes that young women thrive in communities since the service becomes a shared experience either in small peer groups, school initiatives, or local projects: “It transforms from an intimidating task into a movement of sisterhood, collaboration builds confidence and sustains commitment”. For her, “give to gain” is not about losing something to help others: “It is about discovering your power through contribution and that is the foundation upon which future women leaders are built”.
In the coming years, Lisa would love to see the beauty industry to embrace collaboration over competition. “So many young women and organizations are advocating for similar causes, championing empowerment, sustainability, mental health, and community development, yet we often work in silos - when we align our platforms and amplify one another, our collective impact becomes far more powerful,” she shared.
“Young women can reinforce this shift by intentionally supporting one another, partnering on initiatives, sharing platforms, celebrating each other’s milestones, and choosing community over comparison. By doing so, we redefine beauty not as a standard to achieve alone, but as a movement we build together.”
- Abale Lisa Matsoma, Millennium Fellow class of 2024
Article written by: Abale Lisa Matsoma, Millennium Fellow class of 2024
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