Tamunosoye Karibi George, who represented Bayelsa State, has emerged as Miss World Nigeria 2026 after clinching the coveted crown at the pageant’s grand finale held in Lagos.
The 26 year old beauty queen outshone 19 other contestants during the glamorous event, which took place on Saturday at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel. Although she competed on behalf of Bayelsa State, she is originally from Rivers State.
Her victory now earns her the responsibility of representing Nigeria at the 73rd edition of the Miss World Festival scheduled to hold in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, from August 9 to September 5, 2026.
The competition, themed Pride, Power and Purpose, brought together contestants from different parts of the country, all competing for the prestigious national title.
Announcing the result on Sunday, Ben Murray Bruce, founder of the Silverbird Group and former senator, congratulated the new queen and celebrated her achievement.
According to him, Tamunosoye’s emergence marks the beginning of a new chapter, describing her as a worthy ambassador who will carry Nigeria’s hopes onto the global stage.
Beyond her success in the pageant, Tamunosoye has earned recognition for her advocacy initiative, Beyond Labels, a project dedicated to supporting children living with special needs. Through the initiative, she promotes inclusion, dignity and empowerment while creating opportunities for children to develop confidence and pursue their dreams regardless of their circumstances.
Murray Bruce praised her intelligence, grace, determination and commitment to making a difference, noting that these qualities distinguished her throughout the competition and ultimately secured her victory.
He also called on Nigerians to support the new queen as she prepares to represent the country at the international competition in Vietnam, expressing confidence in her ability to make the nation proud.
Miss World Nigeria, organised annually by the Silverbird Group, remains Nigeria’s official platform for selecting representatives to the global Miss World contest. The pageant continues to place strong emphasis on humanitarian service through the Beauty with a Purpose initiative, encouraging contestants to champion meaningful social causes.
Tamunosoye succeeds Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the 72nd Miss World competition in Hyderabad, India. Raimi delivered an impressive performance at the event, finishing among the Top 20 contestants worldwide and securing a place among the Top Five representatives from Africa.
