Former Monnas beauty crowned Miss Universe Bangkok 2026
Tharina's bid for a regional title took an unexpected turn when she was crowned Miss Universe Bangkok 2026 and secured a spot in the Miss Universe Thailand competition.
Former Hoërskool Monument High School learner Tharina Botes was crowned Miss Universe Bangkok 2026 on June 24 in a dramatic pageant twist.
Tharina described her victory as a ‘plot twist’ in posts shared on her social media platforms.
“I thought tonight would be the end of my journey … instead, it became the beginning of a new one. [I am] Your new Miss Universe Bangkok 2026,” she wrote on Facebook and Instagram.
The surprise stems from the fact that Tharina launched her 2026 national pageant comeback by competing for the title of Miss Universe Ubon Ratchathani. However, in an unexpected turn of events, she was crowned as the representative of Thailand’s capital city, Bangkok, and will now compete on the road to Miss Universe Thailand.
• Also read: Tharina Botes’ journey to Miss Thailand World 2023
During her crowning moment, Tharina delivered a widely shared acceptance speech addressing cyberbullying and the importance of empathy.
“For me, cyberbullying begins the moment we forget that there is a real human behind the screen. As someone who has been bullied many times, I know how deeply words can hurt … Love is something we are born with, not hate … I will use my platform to encourage empathy, understanding and responsible communication,” she said.
Watch her speech here:
This is not the first major title Tharina has won. She was crowned Miss Thailand World in 2023, Miss Grand Phuket in 2019, Miss International South Africa in 2016 and Miss Teen Gauteng in 2014. She was also a Top 12 finalist in the Miss South Africa competition in 2018.
The beauty queen has been involved in pageantry from a young age and later moved to Thailand to build her own business. Through her programme, The Ultimate Girl Guide, she aims to inspire and empower women.
Drawing on her pageantry experience, she promotes confidence, courage, discipline and personal transformation. Her course is designed to help women become the most confident, aligned and empowered versions of themselves.
