LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic has emerged winner of Miss World 2026, 44 years after the country last claimed the prestigious crown.
Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic has been crowned Miss World 2026, securing the country’s second title as Nigeria’s Tamunosoye Karibi-George finished among the Top 12.
The 24-year-old was crowned on Saturday at the grand finale of the 73rd Miss World pageant, held at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Her victory marked only the second time the Dominican Republic has produced a Miss World winner, following Mariasela Álvarez’s triumph in 1982.
Mola succeeded Thailand’s Suchata “Opal” Chuangsri, who won the 2025 edition and crowned her successor at the ceremony.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern finished as first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty took second runner-up, with an additional Beauty with a Purpose award for her social impact work.
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The new Queen, Mola is a literature and social studies teacher, professional model, news correspondent and community advocate, holding a degree in Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana.
She is also the founder of Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative that promotes English-language education for children and young people in vulnerable communities.
Her campaign for better access to education featured prominently during the competition.
Notably, Nigeria’s representative, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, reached the Top 12 before her journey came to an end.
The 26-year-old earned an automatic spot in the Top 40 after winning the Africa Top Model title at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest, where she defeated representatives from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and South Africa.
She later advanced to the Top 20 and Top 12 but missed out on the final six.
Karibi-George, who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, represented Bayelsa State at the national pageant before winning Miss World Nigeria 2026 in June.
A communications professional, model, actress, voice-over artist, event host and scriptwriter, she also founded Beyond Labels, an initiative supporting inclusion, dignity, education and empowerment for children with disabilities, special needs and neurodivergent individuals.
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During the global contest, she competed in the Head-to-Head Challenge and Talent Competition, performing “Opportunity” by Sia.
She also represented Nigerian culture through outfits including the “Amazon of the Mangrove” costume and a green-white-green evening gown inspired by the country’s national colours.
The 2026 pageant featured 111 contestants across Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania.
Vietnam hosted Miss World for the first time this year, while the event also formed part of the organization’s 75th anniversary celebrations.
The next Miss World pageant is scheduled to take place in Tanzania in 2027.
