Mpule Kwelagobe

Kwelagobe began her career in modeling and pageantry as a teenager. In 1997, she entered Miss Botswana 1997 while still a high school student. She became the youngest woman to win Miss Botswana, at only 17. As Miss Botswana, Kwelagobe represented Botswana at Miss World 1997 in Mahé, Seychelles, where she was unplaced.^[4]

Kwelagobe returned to pageantry two years later, being crowned Miss Universe Botswana 1999, becoming the inaugural holder of the title.^[4] She subsequently became the first woman to represent Botswana in the Miss Universe competition, competing in Miss Universe 1999 in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago.^[4][5][6] Kwelagobe advanced to the top ten, then the top five, and was ultimately declared the winner of the competition, ahead of first runner-up Miriam Quiambao of the Philippines and second runner-up Diana Nogueira of Spain. With her win, Kwelagobe became the fourth black woman to win Miss Universe, the first black African to win any of the Big Four international beauty pageants, and the first woman from Botswana to win a major international title.^[7][8]

After finishing her reign as Miss Universe, Kwelagobe enrolled in Columbia University and graduated with a degree in international political economy. In 2000, Kwelagobe was made a goodwill ambassador by the United Nations, focusing on youth and HIV/AIDS.^[1][7] She addressed the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the Least Developed Countries conference, the World Youth Summit, and the United States House Committee on Financial Services regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Kwelagobe testified on the socioeconomic impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa and proposed a bill to set up a World Bank AIDS prevention trust fund.^[9]

In November 2000, Kwelagobe launched the MPULE Foundation and continued to tour her country (Botswana) to promote behavioral change among the youth. The tour aimed to curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, while also advocating access to sexual and reproductive rights for women and youths.^[4]

In 2001, Kwelagobe received the Jonathan Mann Health Human Rights Award by the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC).^[10] In 2003, she was selected as a Global Leader for Tomorrow (GLT) by the World Economic Forum, and in 2006, she was selected by the same organisation as a Young Global Leader (YGL).^{[11][7][12][2]}

In 2011, Kwelagobe founded the MPULE Institute for Endogenous Development, a New York City-based advocacy. The institute strives to champion public policy and is a think tank for green initiatives, sustainable development in agriculture, gender equity, and women's and youth empowerment.^[13]

In 2015, Kwelagobe signed an open letter which the ONE Campaign had been collecting signatures for; the letter was addressed to Angela Merkel and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, urging them to focus on women as they serve as the head of the G7 in Germany and the African Union in South Africa respectively.^[14] Kwelagobe sits on the board of the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, a pan-African network of Centers of Excellence in mathematical sciences founded by 2008 TED Prize winner and quantum physicist, Professor Neil Turok.^[15]

• Mpule Kwelagobe Archived 2013-10-30 at the Wayback Machine, UNFPA Goodwill Ambassador
• Young Global Leaders

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Wendy Fitzwilliam	Miss Universe 1999	Succeeded by Lara Dutta
Preceded by Inaugural holder	Miss Universe Botswana 1999	Succeeded by Joyce Molemoeng