Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala now leads South Africa’s biggest beauty pageants

Former Miss South Africa 2010 winner Bokang Montjane-Tshabalala has secured the South African rights to the Miss World competition, completing a historic clean sweep of the country’s three biggest international pageant franchises.

The move places Montjane-Tshabalala in control of:

• Miss World South Africa
• Miss Universe South Africa
• Miss Supranational South Africa

Her company, African Beauty International (ABI), now oversees South Africa’s participation in all three major global pageants.

Bokang completes South Africa’s pageant “Big Three”

Montjane-Tshabalala first acquired the Miss Universe South Africa licence in 2025 and was appointed National Director of the competition.

The same year, she also became National Director for Miss Supranational South Africa.

Now, with the addition of Miss World South Africa, she becomes the only South African currently overseeing all three international franchises under one leadership structure.

“South Africa will compete to win”

Montjane-Tshabalala, who previously competed internationally at both Miss World and Miss Universe, says her own pageant experience shapes her leadership vision.

“I have walked those stages,” she said.

“I have stood under those lights as a competitor, felt what it means to carry the South African flag into those arenas, and I know deeply and personally what is at stake when a young woman steps out to represent this country.”

“South Africa will not just participate in these competitions. South Africa will compete to win.”

South Africa has a strong international pageant history

South Africa remains one of the strongest-performing countries globally across all three competitions.

Notable South African winners include:

• Rolene Strauss – Miss World 2014
• Demi-Leigh Tebow – Miss Universe 2017
• Zozibini Tunzi – Miss Universe 2019
• Lalela Mswane – Miss Supranational 2022

Montjane-Tshabalala believes South Africa is overdue for another major international win.

“Four years is too long. Twelve years is too long,” she said.

“My job is to make sure that the next time the world is looking for its next queen, they are looking at a South African.”

Major international pageants confirmed for 2026

The global pageant calendar for 2026 includes:

• Miss Supranational 2026 in Poland on 31 July
• Miss World 2026 in Vietnam on 5 September
• Miss Universe 2026 in San Juan in November

The 75th anniversary edition of Miss Universe will take place at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum, widely known as El Choliseo.

Unified leadership could reshape South Africa’s pageant future

The consolidation of all three pageants under one organisation is expected to create:

• More consistent contestant preparation
• Unified training standards
• Stronger international strategy
• Better long-term planning

Montjane-Tshabalala says the goal is continuity rather than fragmented leadership.

“For our fans, this changes everything,” she explained.

“It means continuity. It means a long-term vision rather than a patchwork approach.”

A new era for South African pageantry

The announcement comes during a period of global change across the pageant industry.

Miss Universe has expanded eligibility criteria in recent years, while Miss Supranational recently announced new rules allowing mothers and divorced women to compete.

With Montjane-Tshabalala now steering all three national franchises, expectations are rising that South Africa could once again dominate the global pageant stage.

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