01 Jun 2025

Miss World Botswana, Anicia Gaothusi may not have clinched the crown at the Miss World pageant held in Hyderabad, India on May 31, but her journey was nothing short of remarkable.

Gaothusi impressed on the international stage as she settled for Top 32 in the Sports Challenge and advanced to the Top 48 in the Talent Competition.  Also, she secured a spot among the Top 40 semi finalists, an outstanding achievement in a field of over 100 contestants from around the globe.

In addition, she made it to Top 10 in Africa. Despite the outcome, Gaothusi was met with an outpouring of praise and national pride.  Among those commending her was President Advocate Duma Boko, who took to his social media page to express his admiration. 

“Your journey at Miss World has been a shining example of elegance, strength, and national pride,” he wrote, adding that the nation stood firmly behind her with pride and admiration.

Miss Botswana 2025, Ruth Thomas applauded Gaothusi for her outstanding representation of the country on the world stage.

“It’s a very difficult task and I think our queen carried herself with so much poise and confidence. She truly did the best she could,” Thomas said in an interview at a watch party at Cresta Lodge. 

 From the very beginning, Gaothusi captivated global audiences with her elegant fashion choices. She paid homage to Botswana through a traditional dress featuring a striking backdrop of the country’s Big Five. Her final walk was a dazzling display of glamour, she wore a custom-designed jewellery set by the renowned Messika Group, featuring 190 carats of natural diamonds and 290 grams of gold, comprising a pair of earrings, two rings, and two layered necklaces. The ensemble was perfectly complemented by a gown designed by Delayna Scott.

The coveted Miss World crown went to Opal Chuangsri of Thailand. She was followed by Amente Molla of Ethiopia as first runner-up, Sylwia StasiÅ„ska of Poland as second runner-up and Axelle René of Martinique in third place. ENDS