By Saheed Oyelakin
Miss World Nigeria 2026, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, won the Top Model for Africa title on Thursday at the ongoing Miss World competition in Vietnam.
Her victory secured her a place in the Top 40 quarterfinals of the 2026 Miss World competition.
Karibi-George emerged ahead of representatives from Equatorial Guinea, Botswana, Kenya and South Africa at the Top Model competition held during Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest XVII, themed “Soul of Heritage”.
She joins the other continental Top Model winners, with representatives of the Dominican Republic, France and Vietnam winning the titles for the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania, respectively.
The Miss World Organisation announced the results on Instagram, saying, “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 comprise 10 contestants from each of the four continental categories: Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Asia and Oceania, and Europe.
Following the selection of the overall Top Model winner, the remaining places in the Top 40 will be determined through other Miss World challenge categories, including People’s Choice, Beauty With a Purpose, Head-to-Head and Multimedia.
Karibi-George’s latest achievement comes after she featured in the Head-to-Head Challenge, where she reached the African finalists.
South Africa’s Romanda Hombir eventually won the continental round and secured an automatic Top 40 spot.
Karibi-George, 26, from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 after emerging as the winner from a field of 20 finalists on June 6 at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.
She represented Bayelsa State during the national competition and succeeded Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the previous Miss World pageant and reached the Top 20.
A trained communications professional, Karibi-George is an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the founder of Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on inclusion, dignity and empowerment for children with special needs.
She also won Miss Africa International 2024 in Accra, Ghana, before securing the Miss World Nigeria title.
