Who Is Tharina Botes?
Tharina Botes is a South African-born Thai model, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder who has built an unusual international pageant career across South Africa and Thailand. Born on November 17, 1996, in South Africa to a South African father and Thai mother, she grew up with connections to both cultures before eventually moving to Thailand and establishing herself there.
Botes became a major name in pageantry after representing South Africa at Miss International 2016 and later competing in Miss South Africa 2018, where she reached the Top 12. She subsequently moved deeper into the Thai pageant scene, winning Miss Grand Phuket 2019 and becoming first runner-up at Miss Universe Thailand 2021.
Her biggest breakthrough came in 2023 when she won Miss Thailand World and represented Thailand at Miss World 2023. Although she did not place at the international competition, the experience strengthened her profile as a seasoned pageant contestant.
Botes returned to competition again in 2026 and added another important achievement to her résumé. After being crowned Miss Universe Bangkok 2026, she competed for the national Miss Universe Thailand title and won the crown on August 23, 2026. She will now represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico.
Her journey has therefore been much longer than a single pageant season. It has included modelling, business, international competitions, education and community advocacy.
How Old Is Tharina Botes and Where Is She From?
Tharina Botes is 29 years old and was born on November 17, 1996. Although she was born and raised in South Africa, her Thai heritage comes from her mother, giving her a strong connection to both countries.
Botes grew up in the Gauteng province and attended Hoërskool Monument in Krugersdorp. She became interested in modelling and pageantry while still young, eventually entering competitions that helped launch her public career. Her early achievements included Miss Teen Gauteng 2014 and Miss Rand Show 2015.
Her multicultural background has remained an important part of her identity. According to Miss Universe Thailand’s official profile, she grew up with the influence of both Thai and South African cultures. At 22, she moved to Thailand independently to begin a new chapter of her life.
That move proved significant. Thailand became more than simply a place connected to her mother’s heritage. It became the country where she developed her business interests, expanded her pageant career and eventually earned the opportunity to represent the nation at Miss Universe.
Botes is also known for her interest in sports and creative activities. Her hobbies include freediving, painting, tennis and fitness. She has also been described as a former tennis scholarship recipient.
Her ability to speak Thai, English and Afrikaans has further reflected the multicultural background that has shaped her career.
What Is Tharina Botes’ Educational Background?
Tharina Botes has an academic background in commerce, economics and marketing. She attended Hoërskool Monument before continuing her studies in South Africa.
She studied commerce at Damelin and later attended the University of South Africa, where she earned a bachelor’s degree. Different profiles have described her field as commerce and economics, while her official Miss Universe Thailand profile identifies her degree as being in marketing.
Her education has provided a foundation beyond the modelling and pageant industries. Botes has developed business interests in Thailand and has worked as a brand ambassador and model.
Her professional experience also includes work as a luxury brand ambassador in Phuket. Those experiences helped her develop skills in communication, presentation and personal branding, all of which have become valuable in her pageant career.
Botes has also created The Ultimate Girl Guide, an online platform designed around women’s confidence, communication skills, personal branding and personal development. Her work in this area fits closely with the message she has promoted during her pageant career.
Rather than presenting pageantry as being solely about appearance, Botes has increasingly emphasised confidence, leadership and personal development. Her education and business activities have therefore become important parts of her identity outside competitions.
What Is Tharina Botes’ Pageant Career?
Tharina Botes began competing in beauty pageants as a teenager and has accumulated an unusually extensive list of international pageant experiences.
Her early titles included Miss Teen Gauteng 2014 and Miss Rand Show 2015. In 2016, she represented South Africa at Miss International in Japan. She later competed in Miss South Africa 2018 and reached the Top 12.
In 2019, Botes moved further into Thai pageantry. She won Miss Grand Phuket and went on to represent Phuket at Miss Grand Thailand, where she reached the Top 10.
Her next major attempt came at Miss Universe Thailand 2021. Botes represented Phuket and finished as the first runner-up to Anchilee Scott-Kemmis. She also received several special awards, including Miss People’s Choice and Miss Real Passion.
Two years later, she returned to competition and won Miss Thailand World 2023. The victory gave her another opportunity to represent Thailand internationally, this time at Miss World 2023 in India.
Botes did not place at Miss World, but she continued competing and remained active in the international pageant community.
In 2026, she participated in the first MGI All Stars competition and reached the Top 10. She then competed in Miss Universe Bangkok 2026, won the title and advanced to Miss Universe Thailand.
Her persistence eventually paid off.
How Did Tharina Botes Win Miss Universe Thailand 2026?
Tharina Botes was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2026 on August 23, 2026, representing Bangkok. Her victory gave her the opportunity to compete for Thailand at the international Miss Universe competition later in the year.
The national competition included contestants from across Thailand, and Botes emerged as the winner following the final stages of the competition. Suttida Iadpoo of Phuket finished as first runner-up, while Helena Sarakan of Udon Thani was named second runner-up.
Her victory was particularly meaningful because she had already competed in Miss Universe Thailand in 2021 and finished second. Returning five years later and winning the national crown demonstrated the persistence that has become a major theme of her pageant journey.
Botes also earned recognition during the competition for her national costume. Her costume, titled “THAI TASTE: Siamese Cuisine,” was among those recognised in the Best National Costume category.
Following her victory, she is expected to undergo further preparation before representing Thailand internationally.
The Miss Universe 2026 competition is scheduled to take place in Puerto Rico on November 24, where Botes will compete against contestants from around the world.
Her selection also carries an interesting dimension because she was born in South Africa. Botes has spent much of her adult life developing her career in Thailand, and her Thai heritage through her mother has become an important part of her connection with the country.
What Does Tharina Botes Do Outside Pageantry?
Tharina Botes has developed interests in business, women’s empowerment and community service alongside her modelling and pageant career.
She is the owner of Volare, an Italian restaurant in Bangkok inspired by the Amalfi Coast. She also founded The Ultimate Girl Guide, an online platform focused on helping women improve their confidence, communication and personal branding.
Botes has also been involved in charitable work. For more than six years, she has served as an ambassador for Scholars of Sustenance Thailand, an organisation involved in food rescue and efforts to reduce food waste while helping vulnerable communities.
These activities have influenced the message she brings to pageantry. Her platform focuses heavily on confidence, opportunity and empowerment, particularly for women.
Her story also gives her a distinctive perspective. She was born in South Africa, has Thai heritage, moved to Thailand as a young adult and built a career across different cultures. That background has allowed her to present herself as someone who understands both personal reinvention and cultural diversity.
Her Miss Universe journey is therefore not simply about winning a crown. It represents the latest stage of a career that has involved years of competition, professional development and repeated attempts to reach the highest level of international pageantry.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tharina Botes
Who is Tharina Botes?
Tharina Botes is a South African-born Thai model, businesswoman and beauty pageant titleholder. She won Miss Universe Thailand 2026 and will represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2026.
How old is Tharina Botes?
Tharina Botes was born on November 17, 1996, making her 29 years old in 2026.
Where was Tharina Botes born?
She was born in South Africa and grew up in Gauteng. Her father is South African and her mother is Thai.
What did Tharina Botes study?
Botes studied commerce and later earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Africa. Her official Miss Universe Thailand profile identifies her degree as being in marketing.
Is Tharina Botes South African or Thai?
Botes was born and raised in South Africa but has a Thai mother and strong ties to Thailand. She now represents Thailand in international pageantry.
Has Tharina Botes competed in Miss Universe before?
Yes. She competed in Miss Universe Thailand 2021 and finished as first runner-up. She returned to the competition in 2026 and won the national title.
What other pageants has Tharina Botes entered?
She has competed in Miss International, Miss South Africa, Miss Grand Thailand, Miss Universe Thailand, Miss Thailand World, Miss World and MGI All Stars.
Will Tharina Botes compete at Miss Universe 2026?
Yes. After winning Miss Universe Thailand 2026, Botes is scheduled to represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico.
Conclusion
Tharina Botes’ story is one of persistence, reinvention and international pageantry. From her early competitions in South Africa to her move to Thailand, she has spent more than a decade building a career in modelling and beauty competitions.
Her first major international appearances did not always produce the results she wanted, but she continued returning to the stage. After finishing as first runner-up at Miss Universe Thailand in 2021 and winning Miss Thailand World in 2023, she finally captured the Miss Universe Thailand crown in 2026.
Now, Botes has another opportunity to compete on the world’s biggest pageant stage. With her multicultural background, business experience and extensive competition history, her Miss Universe journey will be one of the stories to watch when Thailand’s representative takes the international stage.