Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic has been crowned Miss World 2026, defeating 110 contestants at the grand finale of the prestigious beauty pageant in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
The final was held on Saturday, September 5, as the Miss World competition marked its 75th anniversary. Mola’s triumph secured the Dominican Republic’s second Miss World title, 44 years after Mariasela Álvarez became the country’s first winner in 1982.
Mola succeeds Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who won the Miss World 2025 title.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern emerged as first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty was named second runner-up.
Beyond the glamour of the competition, Mola’s social-impact work played a major role in her journey to the crown.
During the question-and-answer segment, she highlighted her Beauty With a Purpose initiative, which seeks to improve access to English-language education for children living in vulnerable communities.
Mola explained that she wants to make English more accessible to children because the language can provide opportunities and give young people greater confidence in expressing themselves.
Her advocacy is closely connected to her professional experience as a Literature and Social Studies teacher. She is also the founder of Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative aimed at expanding English education among children and young people from vulnerable backgrounds.
The final six contestants also included Vietnam’s Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc, Eritrea’s Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin and South Africa’s Romanda Hombir.
The 2026 pageant was historic as Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition for the first time. A total of 111 contestants participated in the anniversary edition before the field was gradually reduced through the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12 and final six stages.
Nigeria’s Soye Reaches Top 12
Nigeria’s representative, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, also made an impressive showing, reaching the Top 12.
Karibi-George had entered the competition with strong momentum after winning the Africa Top Model title, which secured her an automatic place in the Top 40.
She also enjoyed strong support from Nigerians during the People’s Choice voting stage.
Her Beyond Labels advocacy campaign focused on promoting inclusion and creating opportunities for children living with disabilities and special needs.
Although she did not make the final six, her Top 12 finish represented a notable performance for Nigeria on the global Miss World stage.
