Nigeria’s Karibi-George Wins Africa Top Model, Advances To Miss World Top 40

Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, has won the Top Model title for Africa at the ongoing Miss World competition in Vietnam.

The achievement has earned the Nigerian contestant an automatic place in the Top 40 quarterfinals of Miss World 2026.

Karibi-George took the African title after outperforming contestants from Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa at the Top Model contest held during the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII, themed “Soul of Heritage”.

She was one of four continental winners announced by the Miss World Organisation.

Contestants from the Dominican Republic, France and Vietnam won the Top Model titles for the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania respectively.

The organisation confirmed that the four winners had secured places in the Top 40.

It added that one of them would later be selected as the overall Top Model winner and receive a direct ticket to the Top 20.

“Congratulations to our four Continental Top Model winners, who have officially secured their places in the Top 40 quarterfinals of Miss World 2026.

“Americas & Caribbean: Dominican Republic; Africa: Nigeria; Europe: France; Asia & Oceania: Vietnam.

“One winner from each continent earned a coveted place in the Top 40 after standing out during the Top Model competition at Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII: ‘Soul of Heritage.’

“But the competition isn’t over yet: one of these four continental winners will be named the overall Top Model winner and earn a direct place in the Top 20!”

The Top 40 will feature 10 contestants from each of the four regions: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania, and Europe.

Other contestants will qualify for the Top 40 through challenges such as People’s Choice, Beauty With a Purpose, Head-to-Head and Multimedia.

Karibi-George had previously competed in the Head-to-Head Challenge, where she made it to the African finalists.

However, South Africa’s Romanda Hombir won the continental round and claimed an automatic spot in the Top 40.

The 26-year-old from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, became Miss World Nigeria 2026 after winning a national contest involving 20 finalists. She was crowned on June 6 at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.

She represented Bayelsa State during the national pageant and took over from Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the previous Miss World competition and reached the Top 20.

Tamunosoye Karibi-George is a trained communications professional and an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

She also founded Beyond Labels, an initiative that promotes inclusion, dignity and empowerment for children with special needs.

Before winning the Miss World Nigeria crown, she won Miss Africa International 2024 in Accra, Ghana.

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