Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World pageant, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has exited the competition after making it to the Top 12. Joheirry Mola Dominguez from the Dominican Republic won the title.
Mola was crowned Miss World 2026 on Saturday during the grand finale of the 73rd edition of the pageant at the April 2 Square in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
This is the second time the Dominican Republic has produced a Miss World winner, 44 years after Mariasela Álvarez took home the crown in 1982.
Mola took over from Thailand’s Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, who won in 2025 and crowned her at the finale.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern was the first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty came in second. Chetty won the Beauty with a Purpose award for her social work.
Karibi-George, known as Soye, reached the Top 12 after advancing through several stages but did not make it to the Top Six. The Nigerian beauty queen secured a spot 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 win the continental modeling title. After that, she moved to the Top 20 and then to the Top 12, where her journey ended.
Her Top 12 finish included contestants from Brazil, France, the Philippines, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, who also did not make it to the final six.
The final six contestants included Mola from the Dominican Republic, Reynés from Spain, Chetty from Malaysia, Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc from Vietnam, Romanda Hombir from South Africa, and Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin from Eritrea.
Mola, 24, is a teacher of literature and social studies, a professional model, news correspondent, and community advocate. She holds a degree in Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana.
She also founded Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative that provides English education to children and young people in vulnerable areas. Her push for access to education was a key part of her competition journey, especially in the final.
For Nigeria, Karibi-George’s performance was another strong outing at the pageant. The 26-year-old hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and represented Bayelsa State at the national level.
She was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 in June at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. She succeeded Joy Mojisola Raimi, who reached the Top 20 at the 2025 Miss World pageant.
Karibi-George is a communications professional, model, actress, voice-over artist, event host, and scriptwriter. She also started Beyond Labels, a group focused on inclusion and empowerment for kids with disabilities and special needs.
During the Miss World competition, she took part in the Head-to-Head Challenge and Talent Competition, where she performed “Opportunity” by Sia. She also used her time at the pageant to showcase Nigerian culture, with outfits that highlighted the Niger Delta’s heritage.
One of her standout looks was the “Amazon of the Mangrove” costume, which aimed to show environmental resilience and women’s strength. She also wore a green-white-green evening gown inspired by Nigeria’s national colors.
The 2026 Miss World pageant had 111 contestants from four regions: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania. They went through different stages, including fast-track challenges and rounds for Top 40, Top 20, Top 12, and Top Six before the winners were decided.
This 2026 edition was the first time Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition and it also celebrated the organization’s 75th anniversary. The pageant introduced contestants from several countries, such as Eritrea, French Guiana, the Maldives, Mozambique, and Pakistan.
After Mola’s crowning, the next Miss World pageant will be held in Tanzania in 2027.
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