Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World pageant, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has finished among the Top 12 contestants, as Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic emerged winner of the global beauty 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.
Her victory ended a 44-year wait for the Dominican Republic, which last produced a Miss World in 1982 when Mariasela Álvarez won the coveted title.
Mola succeeded Thailand’s Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, the 2025 Miss World, who crowned her successor at the ceremony.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern emerged first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finished as second runner-up. Chetty also won the Beauty with a Purpose award for her social impact initiatives.
Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, advanced through several stages of the competition before her journey ended in the Top 12. She failed to secure a place in the final Top Six.
The Nigerian beauty queen had earlier earned an automatic spot in the Top 40 after winning the Africa Top Model title at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest.
She defeated contestants from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and South Africa to claim the continental modelling crown.
Karibi-George subsequently progressed into the Top 20 and Top 12 before bowing out at the latter stage.
Her Top 12 finish came alongside contestants from Brazil, France, the Philippines, Zambia and Zimbabwe, who also failed to make the final six.
The final six contestants were Mola of the Dominican Republic, Reynés 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 providing English-language education to children and young people in vulnerable communities.
Her advocacy for improved access to education featured prominently throughout the competition and became a major part of her campaign in the final stage.
Before winning the crown, Mola had also secured the Americas and Caribbean Top Model title, earning her an automatic place in the Top 40.
Her triumph further reflected the Miss World organisation’s “Beauty with a Purpose” philosophy, which combines beauty and modelling with social impact and community advocacy.
For Nigeria, Karibi-George’s Top 12 finish represented another impressive performance on the international stage.
The 26-year-old, who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, represented Bayelsa State at the national pageant before being 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 promoting inclusion, dignity, education and empowerment for children with disabilities, people with 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 used the international platform to showcase Nigerian culture, with several of her outfits highlighting the Niger Delta’s environmental and cultural heritage.
Among her standout appearances was the “Amazon of the Mangrove” costume, designed to symbolise environmental resilience and women’s strength. She also appeared in a green-and-white 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.
Contestants progressed through a series of fast-track challenges before advancing through the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12 and Top Six stages, culminating in the selection of the winner and runners-up.
The 2026 edition marked the first time Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition and coincided with the organisation’s 75th anniversary.
The pageant also featured contestants from several countries making their debut, including Eritrea, French Guiana, the Maldives, Mozambique and Pakistan.
Following Mola’s crowning, Tanzania is scheduled to host the 74th edition of the Miss World pageant in 2027.
