South African media personality, TV presenter, and entrepreneur Ayanda G. Thabethe has officially returned to pageantry after being crowned Miss Cosmo South Africa 2026.
The former Expresso and Afternoon Express host travelled to Vietnam for the official Miss Cosmo pre-launch tour, kicking off her journey toward the international finals in December.
Also see: Ayanda Thabethe reflects on her Miss Supranational journey
From Miss SA runner-up to media maverick
Ayanda G. Thabethe first captured national attention after finishing as the Miss South Africa 1st Runner-Up in 2022 and going on to represent the country as Miss Supranational South Africa 2023 in Poland, where she placed in the Top 24 and won Miss Congeniality.
Since her last turn on the pageant circuit, Thabethe, who holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and Human Nutrition from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, has built a presence across broadcast television, hosting, and brand entrepreneurship.
“I’m returning to pageantry as a woman who has grown beyond the crown,” Thabethe shared in a statement.
Pageantry with purpose
Unlike her previous pageant campaigns, Thabethe’s Miss Cosmo campaign anchors itself around two dedicated social impact initiatives: Crown Confidence and Sustain Her.
- Crown Confidence: An empowerment programme focused on helping young women develop public speaking skills, self-advocacy, and career confidence.
- Sustain Her: A sustainability initiative developed alongside the University of Johannesburg and non-profit Love Our City. The initiative tackles period poverty and textile waste by turning donated garments into reusable sanitary pads and dignity kits.
Also see: Miss SA runner-up Ayanda Thabethe jets off for Miss Supranational
Jet-setting to Vietnam: The pre-launch tour
Immediately following her crowning, Thabethe embarked on her first official international engagement, travelling to Vietnam from 16 to 19 August 2026.
The four-day pre-launch event hosted by the Miss Cosmo organisation (UniMedia) brought together international directors, stakeholders, and select global delegates to set the stage for the upcoming competition.
During the summit, she participated in the Official Season Launch to unveil the competition roadmap, engaged in Media & Culture Orientation with local press, and attended the Delegates’ Summit to align on expectations for the global pageant later this year.
What lies ahead
Following her return from the Vietnam pre-launch tour, Thabethe enters an intensive multi-month preparation phase in South Africa, focusing on her advocacy work and stage training. She will return to Vietnam toward the end of the year, where she will represent Mzansi on the global Miss Cosmo stage during the grand finale events culminating in December.
Also see: Ayanda Thabethe shines at Miss Supranational preliminaries
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