Tamunosoye Karibi George, representing Bayelsa State, has been crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026.
She secured the title at the grand finale held on Saturday at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, emerging winner among 20 finalists from across the country.
Organised by the Silverbird Group, the pageant was held under the theme “Pride, Power, and Purpose.”
The contestants spent the week leading up to the event participating in leadership training, interviews and community based activities, which formed part of the judging process.
At the end of the competition, 26-year-old Tamunosoye, who is from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was announced as the winner and succeeded Joy Mojisola Raimi, Miss World Nigeria 2025. Raimi represented Nigeria at the 72nd Miss World pageant in Hyderabad, India, where she reached the Top 20 and ranked among the Top 5 contestants from Africa.
Tamunosoye is no stranger to the pageant scene. In December 2024, she won the Miss Africa International title in Accra, Ghana, after representing Nigeria at the competition.
Speaking before the pageant, Silverbird Group president and national director of Miss World Nigeria, Guy Murray Bruce, said the platform is designed to empower young women and emphasised that contestants are judged on leadership, advocacy and social impact in addition to appearance.
Miss Anambra and Miss Edo finished as first and second runners up respectively, while Tamunosoye impressed judges during the final question and answer segment, where she described success as the ability to positively influence others and be a blessing through one’s actions and achievements.
As Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye will represent the country at the 75th Miss World Festival, which is scheduled to take place in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5, 2026, with the grand finale set for Ho Chi Minh City.
Nigeria has a rich history at the Miss World competition. The country’s most notable achievement came in 2001 when Agbani Darego became the first Black African woman to win the Miss World crown, a feat that remains one of the most celebrated moments in Nigerian pageantry.
Tamunosoye will now seek to build on that legacy as she prepares to represent Nigeria on the global stage later this year.
