Bangkok’s Tharina Botes to represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico

Tharina Botes (ทารีน่า โบเทส) represented Bangkok, Thailand in the second edition of Miss Universe Thailand. She represented the country in the 71st edition of Miss World, the first edition of Miss Grand International (MGI) All Stars and the 75th edition of Miss Universe and South Africa in the 56th edition of Miss International and the 30th edition of Miss Model of the World.

BIOGRAPHY

Botes is a Thai-South African model and beauty queen from Phuket, Thailand. She is an alumna of Hoërskool Monument High School in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa and University of South Africa in Pretoria, Gauteng.

A former resident of Roodepoort, Gauteng and in Cape Town, South Africa, Botes has a brother who is 10 years younger than her and a sister who is 2 years younger than her. Their father, who is Madeline Botes‘s son, is in the motor industry while their mother owns the Jasmine Thai Day Spa in Ferndale, Gauteng, South Africa.

On November 17, 2025, Tharina turned 29. Here are 20 more things about her:

1. She is Miss Teen Gauteng 2014.
2. She is Miss South Africa Schools 2014.
3. She is Miss Rand Show 2015.
4. She is Miss International South Africa 2016.
5. She was a Miss International 2016 candidate.
6. She was a Fitness Runway Model South Africa 2017 runner-up.
7. In 2018, she studied commerce at Damelin in South Africa and worked at PR Worx in Johannesburg, Gauteng as an ambassador.
8. She is Miss Model of the World South Africa 2018.
9. She was a Miss Model of the World 2018 semifinalist.
10. She was a Miss South Africa 2018 finalist.
11. In 2019, she graduated from the University of South Africa with a bachelor’s degree in commerce and economics.
12. She was a Miss Grand Thailand 2019 finalist.
13. From 2019 to 2020, she worked as a luxury brand ambassador in Phuket.
14. She was Miss Universe Thailand 2021 first runner-up.
15. She won Miss Thailand World 2023.
16. She was a Miss World 2023 candidate.
17. She was an MGI All-Stars 2026 semifinalist.
18. She is Miss Universe Bangkok 2026.
19. She won Miss Universe Thailand 2026.
20. She is a Miss Universe 2026 candidate.

TIMELINE

Tharina is 5’11” tall. She speaks Thai, English, Afrikaans and enjoys painting, freediving, playing tennis and traditional Thai dancing.

2010s

• On March 30, 2014, she and her best friend attended the coronation of Miss South Africa 2014 Rolene Strauss at the Sun City Superbowl in Sun City, Moses Kotane, North West, South Africa.
• On August 8, 2014, she won Miss Teen Gauteng 2014.
• On April 4, 2015, she won Miss Rand Show 2015.
• On October 27, 2016, she represented South Africa at Miss International 2016 and competed against 68 other candidates in Tokyo, Japan. She was unplaced.
• On August 19, 2017, she finished second in the female category of the Fitness Runway Model South Africa 2017 modeling competition.
• On September 9, 2017, she served as a judge at Miss and Mister Northern Gauteng 2017.
• On May 27, 2018, she competed against 27 other finalists at Miss South Africa 2018 in Pretoria. She finished in the Top 12.
• From July 2018 to October 2018, she was a PR Worx ambassador.
• On November 18, 2018, she represented South Africa at Miss Model of the World 2018 and competed against 59 other candidates in Shenzhen, China. She finished in the Top 36.
• On April 29, 2019, she was crowned Miss Grand Phuket 2019 at the Novotel Phuket Phokeethra in Phuket.
• On July 13, 2019, she represented Phuket at Miss Grand Thailand 2019 and competed against 76 other candidates at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre, in Bangkok. She finished in the Top 10.

2020s

• On October 10, 2020, she attended the coronation of Miss Universe Thailand 2020 Amanda Obdam at the True Icon Hall in Bangkok.
• In December 2020, she modeled for Mouawad.
• On October 24, 2021, she represented Phuket at Miss Universe Thailand 2021 and competed against 29 other candidates at the Scala Theatre in Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, Pattaya, Thailand. She was runner-up to Anchilee Scott-Kemmis.
• On October 1, 2023, she competed against 19 other Miss Thailand World 2023 candidates at The Berkeley Hotel Pratunam in Bangkok and won the title.
• On March 9, 2024, she represented Thailand at Miss World 2023 and competed against 111 other candidates at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, India. She was unplaced.
• In September 2024, she traveled to Paris, France; Cannes, France and Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
• On May 30, 2026, she represented Thailand at the MGI All Stars 1st Edition and competed against 55 other candidates at the MGI Hall in Bangkok. She finished in the Top 10.
• On June 24, 2026, she was crowned Miss Universe Bangkok 2026.
• On August 23, 2026, she represented Bangkok at Miss Universe Thailand 2026 and competed against 76 other candidates at the MGI Hall. She won the title.
• On November 24, 2026, she will represent Thailand at Miss Universe 2026 and compete against 129 other candidates at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan, Puerto Rico, United States.