The former Miss South Africa will host this year's finale, while organisers are keeping the identity of her co-host a secret.
Jo-Ann Strauss during Durban July on 7 July 2012 in Durban, South Africa. Picture: Gallo Images/Oupa Bopape
Jo-Ann Strauss is returning to the Miss South Africa spotlight, this time as the host of the 2026 finale at the Sandton Convention Centre on 14 November.
Organisers confirmed the former beauty queen and media personality as the evening’s host on Wednesday, 21 October, announcing the news on the pageant’s social media platforms.
The announcement has heightened anticipation for this year’s competition, with organisers also teasing a mystery co-host who will join Strauss on stage.
Jo-Ann Strauss returns to Miss SA
Strauss, who won the Miss South Africa title in 2001, has built a career spanning television, media, entrepreneurship and international hosting.
Her appointment brings a familiar face back to the pageant, where she will guide audiences through the evening as the pageant crowns its next Miss South Africa. However, organisers have yet to reveal who will share hosting duties with her, prompting speculation among fans online.
In their announcement, they invited followers to guess the identity of Strauss’s co-host, with some already suggesting possible names in the comments.
Former Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert was among those celebrating the news, expressing her excitement about Strauss’s appointment.
Other social media users also welcomed the announcement, with several praising Strauss’s experience and suitability for the role.
A new venue for the 2026 finale
This year’s finale will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre, marking a change from the SunBet Arena, which has hosted previous editions of the pageant. The venue shift adds another point of interest to the 2026 event as organisers prepare to crown a new winner.
Ahead of the main ceremony, television personalities Kuhle Adams and Kat Sinivasan will host the red-carpet coverage live on S3, giving viewers a look at the arrivals and fashion moments before the show begins.
Tickets for the finale are available through TicketPro.
