How a mother supported her daughter's dream to become Miss Tanzania

Dar es Salaam. “Parents should think outside the box and know that despite the importance good of academic performance from their children, their talents shouldn’t be neglected,” Miss Tanzania’s mother, Natasha K’okatangilira shared.

A mother of two, a journalist and public relations expert by profession, she is among the African parents who believe in nurturing children’s unique qualities and helping them realise their dreams.

During an exclusive interview with The Citizen at her Mbezi Beach home, Ms K’okatangilira says African parents view and groom their children to what they want them to be instead of who they are.

She says this has led to provision of little support in helping children to realise their objectives, noting that such parents consider their children as grand products that are supposed to be shaped, moulded and nurtured with an intended outcome already in mind.

However, Ms K’okatangilira says she has always been there to support her daughter, the 2023 Miss Tanzania, Tracy Nabukeera.

Ms Nabukeera was crowned Tanzania’s new beauty queen during an event that took place on July 23 at the SuperDome in Masaki, in the city.

During the interview she says she has never discouraged her daughter when she started displaying her talent in the beauty industry.

“I had to respect her talent because I would be a selfish mother if I chose to discourage her. So, I blessed her journey to see what will happen in future,” she says.

“When it comes to fashion and modelling, they are supposed to done at tender age, therefore I allowed her to proceed, but at the same time, I also reminded her to maintain focus on studying hard,” she adds.

Furthermore, she says her support didn’t just end at blessing her interests, rather she maintained supporting Tracy while at boot camp.

“The boot camp is really tough. They have to wake up early and follow the regime that has been put in place. I remember, during her boot camp with Miss Higher Learning Institution, Tracy got toe injuries,” she says.

“I was trying to ensure she is fine. I was comforting, gently cleaning and drying her wound without exerting any undue pressure on her. I kept reminding her to remain focused, keep the wound clean, dry and continue with the competition,” she shares.

Furthermore, she says African homes expect children to perform well academically, acquire good jobs and start families, noting that most of the African parents are unprepared for children's failures.

According to her, parents are encouraged to think differently and while they insist their children continue studying, they should help them identify and keep their talents live.

“This is done without letting the norms that have been inherited from parents to pass through to the next generation,” she says.

“We need different approaches in making sure that children grow with aspiring dreams of where they want to be after they are grown up,” she insists.

Ms K’okatangilira, who is a single mother following the death of her husband several years ago, says raising children under that situation was a hard task.

“Sometimes, as a single parent, you are supposed to have better time management, make prior-preparations and seek support from other relatives,” she said.

She refutes criticisms about procedures for contestants to be crowned beauty queens, noting that it’s a totally wrong conception as only hardwork was required.

She advises that parents support their children with similar dreams, adding that girls shouldn’t hesitate to show their talents.

“Parents should understand what is required in order to support their daughters. They can do research for more information as contestants need moral support too,” she says.

“They shouldn’t focus on the daughter’s possibility to emerge victorious, they should concentrate at ensuring the girls are doing the right things to the end,” she adds.