Dominican Republic wins Miss World 2026 as Nigeria’s Soye exits at Top 12

Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World pageant, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has bowed out of the competition after reaching the Top 12, as Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic emerged winner of the global contest.

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

The victory marked the second time the Dominican Republic has produced a Miss World winner, 44 years after Mariasela Álvarez won the title in 1982.

Mola succeeded Thailand’s Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, who won the 2025 edition and crowned her successor at the event.

Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern emerged first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty was named second runner-up. Chetty also won the Beauty with a Purpose award for her social impact work.

Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, progressed through several stages of the competition before her journey ended at the Top 12 stage.

She had earlier secured an automatic place in the Top 40 after winning the Africa Top Model title at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest, defeating contestants from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and South Africa.

The Nigerian representative later advanced to the Top 20 and Top 12 but failed to make the final six contestants.

The final six comprised Mola of the Dominican Republic, Reynés Alabern of Spain, Chetty of Malaysia, Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc of Vietnam, Romanda Hombir of South Africa and Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin of Eritrea.

Mola, 24, is 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 focused on providing English-language education to children and young people in vulnerable communities.

Her advocacy for education access featured prominently during the competition, particularly during the final stage.

For Nigeria, Karibi-George’s performance represented another strong showing at the international pageant.

The 26-year-old, who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, represented Bayelsa State at the national pageant and 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 is also the founder of Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on inclusion, dignity, education and empowerment for children with disabilities, special needs and neurodivergent individuals.

During the competition, she participated in the Head-to-Head Challenge and Talent Competition, where she performed “Opportunity” by Sia.

She also showcased Nigerian culture through her outfits, including the “Amazon of the Mangrove” costume, which highlighted environmental resilience and women’s strength, as well as a green-white-green evening gown inspired by Nigeria’s national colours.

The 2026 Miss World pageant featured 111 contestants divided into four continental groups: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania.

The contestants progressed through several stages, including fast-track challenges and the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12 and Top Six rounds before the winner and runners-up were selected.

The 2026 edition was the first time Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition and also marked the organisation’s 75th anniversary.

The next edition of the pageant is scheduled to be held in Tanzania in 2027.