Dominican Republic Takes Miss World 2026 Crown; Karibi-George Secures Top 12 Spot

Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World pageant, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, reached the Top 12, while Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic won the competition.

Mola was crowned Miss World 2026 on Saturday at the grand finale of the 73rd edition of the pageant, held at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The victory marks the second time the Dominican Republic has claimed the Miss World title, 44 years after Mariasela Álvarez’s win in 1982.

Mola succeeded Thailand’s Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, the 2025 winner, who crowned her at the finale.

Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern was named first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finished as second runner-up.

Chetty also earned the Beauty with a Purpose award for her social impact initiatives.

Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, advanced through multiple rounds before completing her campaign in the Top 12, missing out on a spot in the final Top Six.

The Nigerian representative secured an automatic place in the Top 40 after winning the Africa Top Model title at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest.

She outperformed contestants from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, and South Africa to claim the continental modeling honor.

Karibi-George subsequently progressed to the Top 20 and Top 12 before exiting the competition.

She shared her Top 12 placement with contestants from Brazil, France, the Philippines, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, who also missed the final six.

The top six finalists comprised Mola (Dominican Republic), Reynés (Spain), Chetty (Malaysia), Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc (Vietnam), Romanda Hombir (South Africa), and Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin (Eritrea).

The 24-year-old winner, Mola, works as a literature and social studies teacher, professional model, news correspondent, and community advocate.

She holds a degree in Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana and founded Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative dedicated to delivering English-language education to youth in vulnerable communities.

Her advocacy for educational access featured prominently throughout the event, particularly during the final phase.

Mola previously secured her Top 40 placement by winning the Americas and Caribbean Top Model title.

Her win aligns with the pageant’s “Beauty with a Purpose” philosophy, which prioritizes social impact and community advocacy alongside beauty and modeling.

Karibi-George’s performance marked another impressive showing for Nigeria on the global stage.

The 26-year-old Port Harcourt, Rivers State native represented Bayelsa State at the national level.

She earned the title of Miss World Nigeria 2026 in June at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, succeeding Joy Mojisola Raimi, a Top 20 finisher at the 2025 edition.

Karibi-George is a communications professional, model, actress, voice-over artist, event host, and scriptwriter.

She founded Beyond Labels, an initiative promoting inclusion, dignity, education, and empowerment for children with disabilities, special needs, and neurodivergent conditions.

At the pageant, she participated in both the Head-to-Head Challenge and the Talent Competition, performing Sia’s “Opportunity.”

She also utilized the global platform to celebrate Nigerian heritage, presenting attire that reflected Niger Delta culture and environmental history.

Her notable appearances included the “Amazon of the Mangrove” costume, designed to signify environmental resilience and female strength, alongside a green-white-green evening gown inspired by the Nigerian flag.

The 2026 Miss World pageant featured 111 contestants split across four regions: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania.

Participants advanced through fast-track challenges to the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12, and Top Six stages before the panel determined the winner and runners-up.

The event marked the first time Vietnam hosted the Miss World pageant, coinciding with the organization’s 75th anniversary.

The 2026 edition also welcomed debut contestants from Eritrea, French Guiana, the Maldives, Mozambique, and Pakistan.

Following Mola’s victory, the 74th Miss World pageant is scheduled to take place in Tanzania in 2027.