Miss World 2026: Nigeria’s Karibi-George secures Top 40 spot with Africa Top Model win
Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has secured a place in the Top 40 of the 2026 Miss World competition after winning the Africa Top Model title in Vietnam.
Karibi-George emerged as the African winner at the Top Model competition held during the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII, themed “Soul of Heritage”.
Her victory automatically earned her a place in the Top 40 quarterfinals of the global pageant.
She finished ahead of contestants from Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa in the African regional contest.
The Miss World Organisation confirmed the results on Instagram, announcing the continental winners for Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania.
The Dominican Republic, France and Vietnam emerged as winners for the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania respectively.
The organisation said one contestant from each continent earned a Top 40 place after standing out during the Top Model competition.
It added that the competition would continue, with one of the four continental winners to emerge as the overall Top Model winner and secure a direct place in the Top 20.
The Top 40 will comprise 10 contestants from each continent, while the remaining places will be determined through other fast-track challenges, including People’s Choice, Beauty With a Purpose, Head-to-Head and Multimedia.
Karibi-George had earlier participated in the Head-to-Head Challenge, reaching the African finals, where South Africa’s Romanda Hombir won the continental round and secured a Top 40 place.
The 26-year-old Port Harcourt, Rivers State-born contestant was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 on June 6 at Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
She represented Bayelsa State at the national pageant and succeeded Joy Mojisola Raimi, who reached the Top 20 at the previous edition.
Karibi-George, a communications professional and associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, founded Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on inclusion and empowerment for children with special needs.
She had earlier won the Miss Africa International 2024 title in Accra, Ghana, before emerging as Miss World Nigeria 2026.
