By Ali Elias
Tamunosoye Karibi-George, representing Bayelsa State, has emerged winner of the Miss World Nigeria 2026 pageant, defeating 20 other finalists to clinch the coveted crown at the grand finale held in Lagos over the weekend.
The 26-year-old beauty queen, who hails from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was crowned at the end of a keenly contested event themed “Pride, Power, and Purpose,” which featured contestants from across the country competing in talent presentations, interviews, leadership assessments and evening wear rounds.
With her victory, Karibi-George will represent Nigeria at the 73rd Miss World Festival scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August 9 to September 5, 2026.
The grand finale, held at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos, marked the culmination of a week-long programme during which contestants underwent leadership training, community engagement activities and various assessments designed to evaluate not only beauty but also character, intellect and social impact.
Karibi-George succeeds Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the 72nd Miss World pageant in Hyderabad, India, where she reached the Top 20 globally and ranked among the Top Five contestants from Africa.
Celebrating the new queen’s emergence, Ben Murray-Bruce, founder of the Silverbird Group and organiser of the pageant, described her as “more than a queen,” citing her commitment to social advocacy and community development.
In a post on X, Murray-Bruce announced the result, stating: “We have a queen. A new chapter begins. Please join us in celebrating Tamunosoye Karibi-George, representing Bayelsa State, as the newly crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026.”
He particularly highlighted her initiative, Beyond Labels, which advocates inclusion, dignity and empowerment for children with special needs.
“More than a queen, Tamunosoye is a passionate advocate for change. Through her initiative, Beyond Labels, she champions inclusion, dignity, and empowerment for children with special needs, creating safe spaces where every child is encouraged to dream boldly and realise that their circumstances do not define their future,” Murray-Bruce said.
According to him, her purpose, poise, intelligence and passion distinguished her throughout the competition and earned her the honour of carrying Nigeria’s hopes onto the international stage.
Karibi-George is no stranger to pageantry and advocacy. Beyond her beauty pageant accomplishments, she has built a reputation as a campaigner for the rights and welfare of children with special needs, a cause that aligns closely with the Miss World organisation’s globally recognised “Beauty With a Purpose” philosophy.
Her emergence continues Nigeria’s rich tradition in international beauty contests. The country has produced notable global pageant successes, including Agbani Darego, who made history in 2001 as the first Black African woman to win the Miss World crown.
Organised annually by the Silverbird Group, Miss World Nigeria remains one of the nation’s foremost beauty pageants and serves as the official platform for selecting Nigeria’s representative at the global Miss World competition. As preparations begin for the international contest in Vietnam, expectations are high that Karibi-George will build on Nigeria’s recent strong performances and further elevate the country’s standing on the global pageant stage.