In honor of International Women’s Day, social activist and former Miss Universe Mpule Kwelagobe made her first trip to Washington state.

Kwelagobe delivered a keynote address on “The Multiplier Effects of Investing in Women” yesterday in the CUB Senior Ballroom.

“Investing in women is smart economics,” Kwelagobe said, citing statistics that African women invest 90 percent of their assets in their families, often in the form of education, supporting human development. However, men return only 40 percent of their income to their families, Kwelagobe said.

Not investing in women is hurting African countries at a national level, she said.

Kwelagobe’s resume is extensive, including work as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador focusing on youth and HIV/AIDS, testifying in front of Congress about the socioeconomic impact of AIDS in Africa, and founding the MPULE Institute, a New York City-based advocacy and public policy think tank. Her home country of Botswana has issued five postage stamps in her likeness and honor.

When Kwelagobe was seven years old, she told her mother that she was going to live in New York one day and become a fashion model. She said her mother bought her a fashion magazine whenever she had the money.

After being crowned Miss Universe in 1999 at the age of 19, Kwelagobe’s biggest dream was “to become a Victoria’s Secret supermodel,” she said.

However, she had mentors in Botswana who convinced her to go to school and study economics, which she did, graduating from Columbia University.

She said she became a champion of women because she wanted to pay forward the mentorship she’d received from women in her life.

Through the NEW Africa Leadership Program, Kwelagobe aims to mobilize young women in Africa to increase their participation in global development. Due to the fact that women in rural Africa spend so much time doing unpaid work for their families, the program also hopes to increase investment in labor-saving technologies, like access to clean water.

Approximately 300 young women from Africa have been involved with the program thus far.

Alexis Ballard, a senior international business major, said International Women’s Day is a monumental day and that Kwelagobe is a “monumental woman.”

“When (Kwelagobe) comes into the room, even if you don’t know her, you know she’s important,” Ballard said. She described Kwelagobe as put-together and the kind of person who “likes to hear about you and your interests.”

Kwelagobe presents the message that people can do or be anything, no matter how small they may feel, said Kate Hellmann, international center coordinator and a member of the International Women’s Day committee.

Hellmann said this message is especially relevant for women, but is also important for men.

“The audience for gender equality is everyone,” Hellmann said.

Kwelagobe interacted with students and facilitators Tuesday night at an informal dinner, yesterday afternoon at a meet and greet in the Terrell Atrium, and following her keynote address last night. She told one student that any act of championing women helps, even on campus.

“No level is more important than another,” she said.

International Women’s Day is March 8.