FROM MAUN TO THE WORLD STAGE: The unfolding odyssey of Kaone Kario
Sometimes, life throws you a curveball, and if you’re lucky, it lands you exactly where you’re meant to be. For Kaone Kario, a tall, determined village girl from Maun, that curveball came in 2005, wrapped in the glitz and glamour of the Nokia Face of Africa auditions.
Little did this 19-year-old know that she was standing on the precipice of a dream, about to become a supermodel who would grace runways, light up billboards, and showcase beauty across the globe.
Back then, Kaone was a young woman with the world as her oyster, albeit a world she was still getting to grips with. Like any other aspiring soul, her dream was to make it big, but she was utterly clueless that fame and fortune would come knocking so early.
She was told to walk, to model, and in a twist of fate, even got impromptu lessons right there at the auditions. This seemingly ordinary moment was the spark that ignited an extraordinary journey for the girl who now stands as a supermodel, an eloquent speaker, and a true beauty enthusiast.
“Back in Maun, the museum was my favorite place,” Kaone shared in an exclusive interview with Podicast, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “It hosted a number of influential people who fanned my confidence. It was a special place for me to dream.”
It was in this quiet sanctuary that she found her muse, drawing visual inspiration from Mpule Kwelagobe, the Botswana native who had taken the Miss Universe crown in 1999. If Mpule could do it, Kaone knew, then her own sky-high aspirations were within reach.
The bootcamp phase of Nokia Face of Africa was a baptism by fire, packed with editorial lessons that taught her the ropes of modeling. But for Kaone, it wasn’t about the cut-throat competition; it was about soaking up every single moment. “I threw myself into the experience, and I knew I had to milk this,” she recalled, a laugh bubbling up.
“I wasn’t in a competition to win, but the entire experience. I was having the best time of my life. During the Nokia Face of Africa, all I could think of was the after-party, not winning. The whole time I was thinking of my crush who was part of the project.” Such is the endearing innocence of a young woman on the brink of greatness.
Winning Nokia Face of Africa was a monumental achievement, leading to a contract with Storms Modelling Agency. Yet, this sweet victory soon turned sour, proving that sometimes, what glitters isn’t gold. “They robbed me,” Kaone stated frankly, the painful truth an “easy pill to digest” only now, years later.
“Winning the contract was great, and I was making a lot of money very young, the money I didn’t understand. We were given allowances that I didn’t know what I was
supposed to do with. They stole most of the money, and it’s only now that it’s clicking in my mind.”
It was a harsh lesson, learned in the most unforgiving way: the devil is always in the details of a contract. Kaone vividly remembers signing her initial agreement in the back of a car, only to later discover she was entitled to a significant lump sum that never materialized.
The sting of exploitation was a bitter pill she had to swallow twice. “It hit me the second time it happened, another agency this time,” she recounted. “There were a number of excuses on how I couldn’t be paid. On the other hand, the lawyer would demand a lot of money, and my world was shutting down.”
But Kaone Kario is no stranger to resilience. Through these trying experiences, she learned invaluable lessons that she now passionately shares with others in the arts.
When signing a contract, she emphasizes, you are offering a valuable service that a client desires, and they possess what you want in return. Therefore, artists should never show desperation. Her advice is crystal clear: always, always unpack contracts with lawyers to avoid falling prey to exploitation.
Kaone Kario’s journey from a curious village girl to an international supermodel is more than just a rags-to-riches story. It’s a powerful testament to the importance of self-worth, the necessity of vigilance, and the enduring spirit of a young woman who, despite facing her fair share of bumps in the road, continues to reach for the stars.
