For Tharina Botes, the road to Miss Universe Thailand was anything but short.

The Thai-South African beauty has spent a decade building a pageant career that crossed countries, organizations and international stages. After years of victories, near-misses and fresh attempts, Botes finally captured one of the biggest titles of her career when she was crowned Miss Universe Thailand 2026.

Her latest triumph carries added significance because she had previously come remarkably close to the crown. In 2021, Botes emerged as first runner-up at Miss Universe Thailand, finishing behind eventual winner Anchilee Scott-Kemmis.

Rather than allowing that result to define her journey, she continued competing and exploring other opportunities in the pageant world.

Botes first gained national recognition in South Africa. She won Miss International South Africa 2016 and traveled to Tokyo to compete at Miss International that same year. Two years later, she entered Miss South Africa 2018 and advanced to the Top 12.

Her pageant career eventually shifted to Thailand, where she won Miss Grand Phuket 2019 before securing a Top 10 placement at Miss Grand Thailand.

Following her Miss Universe Thailand runner-up finish in 2021, Botes returned to a major national competition in 2023 and captured the Miss Thailand World crown. The victory sent her to the Miss World competition held in Mumbai, India, in March 2024.

Her competitive streak continued in 2026 when she joined the inaugural MGI All-Stars representing Thailand and reached the Top 10.

Then came another shot at Miss Universe Thailand.

This time, Botes walked away with the crown, adding another major victory to a pageant résumé shaped by persistence and years of experience onstage.

Her pageant journey includes:

• Miss International South Africa 2016 — Winner

• Miss International 2016 — Unplaced

• Miss South Africa 2018 — Top 12

• Miss Grand Phuket 2019 — Winner

• Miss Grand Thailand 2019 — Top 10

• Miss Universe Thailand 2021 — First runner-up

• Miss Thailand World 2023 — Winner

• Miss World 2023 — Unplaced

• MGI All-Stars 2026 — Top 10

• Miss Universe Thailand 2026 — Winner

With the national crown now hers, Botes begins another chapter—this time carrying Thailand to the Miss Universe 2026 competition in Puerto Rico later this year.

After competing under two national flags and across several major pageant systems, her Miss Universe Thailand victory stands as a milestone years in the making.