A close-up portrait of beauty Tamunosoya Karibi George features a pink beaded neckline with prominent sculptural 3D pink and silver metallic flowers.
Nigeria has a new representative on the world stage. Last night, Tamunosoye Karibi George she was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 at the Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, in the grand final, which brought together 20 finalists from all over the country under the theme “Pride, Power and Purpose”.
Organized by the Silverbird Group, the Miss World Nigeria 2026 coronation night was more than a beauty pageant – it was a demonstration of intelligence, advocacy and leadership. The finalists spent the past week at camp engaging in leadership training and community-focused activities, all of which fed into the evening’s judging criteria. When the results were tallied and the crown was placed, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, 26, representing Bayelsa State and hailing from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, emerged from the field of competition to claim the title.
She succeeds Joy Mojisola RaimiMiss World Nigeria 2025, who represented Nigeria at the 72nd Miss World pageant in Hyderabad, India, where she made it to the top 20 and placed in the top 5 from Africa.
Close-up of beauty Tamunosoya Karibi George with soft wavy hair and classic make-up for Miss.
For Tamunosoye, the Miss World Nigeria crown is the next chapter in an already impressive electoral journey. She previously represented Nigeria as Miss Africa International 2024, winning the title at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Ghana in December 2024 — an experience that has prepared her well for the responsibilities that come with Nigeria’s most prominent title. Type Murray–Brucethe Silverbird Group President and National Director of Miss World Nigeria, outlined what the organization requires from its titleholders, stressing that the platform is designed to empower young Nigerian women for leadership and that winning goes beyond looks, requiring contestants to demonstrate significant contributions to society.
Miss World Nigeria 2026 Tamunosoye Karibi George wears a gold sequin off the shoulder gown with a high slit on a red background.
With the crown now firmly on her head, attention turns to what comes next. Tamunosoye Karibi-George will represent Nigeria at the 75th anniversary of the Miss World Festival, also its 73rd edition, which will be held in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5, 2026, with the grand final scheduled for Ho Chi Minh City. It carries with it the weight of Nigeria’s proud history in the international competition, a history that includes producing the first black African winner in the competition’s history when Agbani Darego took the crown in 2001.
Check out some of her best looks from pageant week.
Tamunosoye Karibi George wears a sparkling silver strapless evening gown during the Miss World Grand Final in Nigeria.
Tamunosoye Karibi George poses in a heavily textured pink mini dress with fringe detailing for her official cover and arrival.
Tamunosoye Karibi George sits on the white steps, wearing a transparent brown mermaid dress decorated with geometric mirror fragments for the talent performance segment.
Tamunosoye Karibi George poses in a structured brown satin halter dress with a high slit during pageant preliminaries.
Tamunosoye Karibi George stands in the water, wearing a structured national costume inspired by white beads and coral on the theme of the Amazon mangrove.
Miss World Nigeria contestant Tamunosoye Karibi George wears her official white Bayelsa state sash over a red tailored trouser suit.
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Photos: Tamunosoye Karibi George
