The Miss Universe Botswana grand finale will be held in the northern city for the first time in the pageant’s 26-year history.
The prestigious event is scheduled for Saturday, 30 August, at the Adansonia Hotel, with the winner set to represent Botswana at the global Miss Universe competition in Thailand on 21 November.
Announcing the relocation during a press briefing on Monday, the pageant’s Director, Safie Sekgwa, said the shift from Gaborone to Francistown is a deliberate effort to spotlight the city’s economic and tourism potential.
“People consume what they see.
We want to also spotlight Francistown as a major trade link. It has to be promoted as a tourist destination.
Miss Universe is a source of national pride.
They are the universal queens and Botswana’s marketing representatives,” Sekgwa stated.
Joined by the top ten finalists—who posed elegantly for photos alongside local dignitaries including MP Moswaane—Sekgwa emphasized the importance of representation, beauty, and opportunity converging on a national stage.
Botswana has a proud history with the Miss Universe pageant.
The country’s most memorable moment came in 1999, during its debut appearance, when 19-year-old Mpule Kwelagobe triumphed in Trinidad and Tobago, claiming the coveted crown against 83 international contestants.
Last year’s 73rd edition of Miss Universe, held in Mexico, saw a record 125 countries take part, with Denmark’s Victoria Theilvig taking the crown.
Botswana’s representative, Thanolo Keutlwile, fell short of the top 30, and hopes are high that her successor will advance further in this year’s competition in Pak Kret.
Adansonia Hotel Director, Praful Jog, welcomed the opportunity to host the national spectacle.
“In my 40 years in Francistown, it will be the first time an event of this magnitude is brought to the city,” Jog noted, adding, “As the host hotel, we assure you that we have the required infrastructure in place—not only as Adansonia Hotel but as Francistown as a whole.”
The relocation marks more than just a change in scenery—it’s a symbolic recognition of Francistown’s growing prominence and a nod to inclusive national representation.
The winner crowned in August will carry Botswana’s hopes to Thailand, joining global peers in a competition watched by more than a billion viewers worldwide.
