Television presenter and Miss Cosmo South Africa 2026 Ayanda G. Thabethe has arrived in Vietnam, where she will represent South Africa at the international pageant.
Thabethe begins her Miss Cosmo journey
- Before leaving for the competition, Thabethe told her followers that she wanted her reign to be daring, happy, genuine and meaningful — while ensuring she was “completely unseen no more.”
- The former Espresso presenter is currently exploring Ho Chi Minh City as she attends the Miss Cosmo 2026 pre-launch programme, taking place from 16 to 19 August.
- The event marks her first official appearance since receiving the national title and begins the preparation period leading up to the international final in December.
Thabethe was named Miss Cosmo South Africa on 13 August 2026, with the title announced nationally instead of being awarded during a live public pageant.
Speaking about the responsibility attached to the crown, she said she was looking forward to the experience but understood that the title extended beyond her own ambitions. In her view, it also stood for the young women following her journey, those who had placed their trust in her and the nation she has the honour of representing.
She also shared her hopes for the year ahead on Instagram, telling fans that she had a clear idea of how she wanted the reign to unfold — and that enjoyment was central to it.
Thabethe said she wanted the chapter to bring memorable experiences, unfamiliar destinations, thoughtful discussions, plenty of laughter, remarkable people and memories that would remain with her even after she handed over the crown.
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Still, Thabethe stressed that having fun would not mean neglecting her responsibilities.
She said she planned to work diligently, use the platform for a meaningful purpose, create tangible change and represent South Africa with pride, while also allowing herself to savour every part of the experience.
She ended the post by describing the year as her own reign and repeating her desire for it to be bold, joyful, sincere and impactful — a chapter in which she would no longer remain unseen.
Previous pageant experience
This is not Thabethe’s first appearance in the pageant world. She earned a BSc in Dietetics and Human Nutrition from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, finished as the first runner-up at Miss South Africa 2022 and later won the Miss Supranational South Africa 2023 title. At the international competition in Poland, she advanced to the Top 24.
She has since developed a broadcasting career through Espresso and Afternoon Express, while also working on brand collaborations, creating digital content and delivering talks as a public speaker.
Her initiatives and South Africa’s Miss Cosmo history
Her Miss Cosmo campaign is supported by two social-impact projects. Crown Confidence is designed to help young women strengthen their self-belief and communication abilities. Sustain Her, created with the University of Johannesburg and non-profit organisation Love Our City, repurposes donated textile waste into reusable menstrual pads and dignity kits.
Thabethe is also part of a still-small, but expanding, group of South Africans to compete at Miss Cosmo. Lebohang Raputsoe made history as the nation’s first representative in 2024 and reached the Top 21 at the inaugural competition, held in Ho Chi Minh City.
The following year, Bonang Matheba hosted the Miss Cosmo 2025 Grand Finale and Beauty Music Festival in the same city, an event that brought together more than 80 representatives from around the world.
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