"Tarina Botes" , Miss Universe Thailand 2026 opened up about a shocking incident during her pageant preparation when a monk in Chiang Mai warned that she might have been cursed by someone. She turned to spiritual practices, including taking a holy water bath, carrying a talisman cloth, and covering her head with a monk's robe for three days before the final round. Tarina shared this story on the program “Superstar Pa Talui,” describing the many unusual symptoms she endured during the competition.
Have you ever been interviewed as a beauty contestant about the intense competition and the use of curses? What did you feel when they said someone cursed you?
"During my pageant, I had a persistent cough for two months. I often woke up coughing at night. When I competed in Udon Thani, my feet hurt badly but I had to endure it. After that day, my feet swelled and bled, making it hard to walk on stage and causing stress. Then, after eating papaya salad with friends, my tooth broke. I also had constant back pain, gallstones, and vomiting. I wondered why I had so many problems. But I stayed positive and tried not to focus on it until I met a monk in Chiang Mai who said someone had cursed me."
What did you do after the monk told you about the curse?
"I took a holy water bath every day and sprinkled myself with holy water before going on stage."
Did you also drink the holy water?
"A little bit."
You're of mixed heritage. Did you really believe in this?
"At first, I didn’t believe it. But since I kept having so many issues every day, I decided to try it."
After taking the holy water bath and drinking holy water given by the monk in Chiang Mai, did your condition improve?
"Yes, my condition improved. The monk also gave me a green cloth representing a giant soldier (a protective talisman), which I placed under my pillow and carried with me everywhere. He gave me a robe to cover my head for three days before the final competition as a way to ward off bad luck. Before going on stage, I prayed and asked for the best performance and answers."
Do you know who cursed you?
"I do, but I won’t say because I can’t confirm if it’s true. The monk named someone, and I was shocked."
Have you talked to the person the monk said cursed you?
"No, I haven’t talked to them. But she often behaves like that—touching me repeatedly."
Did she win any titles?
"I can’t say!!! I don’t know if it’s true."
Why do you think she touched you?
"Because I was the frontrunner. She was afraid of me and tried to take my energy."
Additionally, Tarina updated her preparation for Miss Universe 2026 in Puerto Rico, saying she must prepare more thoroughly since makeup artists and hairstylists cannot travel with her, so she has to train and improve her skills in many areas.
"I have a lot to train in—walking, acting, stage presence, public speaking—and I also need to learn more Spanish. If I can speak Spanish, I will gain more beauty pageant fans and supporters there and be able to communicate with people in Puerto Rico."
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