Ayanda Thabethe crowned Miss Cosmo South Africa 2026, prepares for international competition in Vietnam

Thabethe, a television presenter, host, content creator, and entrepreneur, previously served as Miss South Africa first runner-up in 2022 and Miss Supranational South Africa 2023. Her return to pageantry is driven by a desire to use the platform for impact, focusing on empowering young women. Her campaign includes two initiatives: Crown Confidence, which aims to develop confidence and communication skills in young women, and Sustain Her, which addresses period poverty and textile waste.

Sustain Her, developed with the University of Johannesburg and in partnership with Love Our City, repurposes donated clothing into reusable menstrual pads and dignity kits. To date, over 1,968 reusable sanitary pads have been produced, and 320 girls have received menstrual dignity kits, with an additional 148 kits prepared for distribution. The initiative also incorporates confidence and leadership workshops through its partnership with Crown Confidence.