NEWS
Joheirry Mola Makes History, Wins Miss World 2026 for Dominican Republic
Joheirry Mola Dominguez has been crowned Miss World 2026, delivering a historic victory for the Dominican Republic at the 75th anniversary edition of the prestigious global beauty pageant held in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Mola emerged ahead of 110 contestants at the grand finale on Saturday, September 5, becoming the second woman from the Dominican Republic to win the coveted Miss World crown, 44 years after Mariasela Álvarez claimed the title in 1982.
The historic triumph sparked celebrations among Dominicans, as Mola became the latest representative of the Caribbean nation to reach the pinnacle of the Miss World competition.
Mola succeeds Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who won the Miss World 2025 title. Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern finished as first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty was named second runner-up.
A Crown Backed By Purpose:
Beyond her performance on the pageant stage, Mola’s journey to the crown was strongly influenced by her commitment to education and social impact.
During the question-and-answer segment, she highlighted her Beauty With a Purpose project, an initiative focused on providing English-language education to children living in vulnerable communities.
Her advocacy is closely connected to her professional background as a Literature and Social Studies teacher. She is also the founder of Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative dedicated to expanding access to English education for children and young people from disadvantaged communities.
Mola’s vision for the project centred on equipping children with English-language skills that could broaden their opportunities and give them greater confidence to express themselves and participate in the wider world.
Finalists Battle for the Crown:
The competition featured representatives from 111 countries and territories, with contestants gradually eliminated through several stages before the final showdown.
The final six included Vietnam’s Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc, Eritrea’s Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin and South Africa’s Romanda Hombir, alongside Mola and the eventual runners-up from Spain and Malaysia.
The 2026 edition was particularly significant as Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition for the first time. The pageant also marked its 75th anniversary, adding further significance to an already highly anticipated global event.
Contestants competed through a series of stages that narrowed the field from the Top 40 to the Top 20, Top 12 and eventually the final six.
Nigeria’s Soye Reaches Top 12:
Nigeria’s representative, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, also recorded an impressive outing, advancing to the Top 12 of the competition.
Soye entered the final stages with considerable momentum after winning the Africa Top Model title, an achievement that secured her an automatic place in the Top 40.
She also enjoyed strong support from Nigerians during the People’s Choice voting stage, further boosting her profile throughout the competition.
Her progression into the Top 12 represented another notable achievement for Nigeria on the Miss World stage, particularly under the 2026 competition format, which combined continental selections, Beauty With a Purpose and public voting in determining the contestants who advanced.
Soye also used the global platform to promote her Beyond Labels advocacy initiative, which focuses on inclusion and creating opportunities for children with disabilities and special needs.
Although she did not make the final six, her Top 12 finish and strong showing throughout the competition ensured that Nigeria remained firmly represented among the leading contestants.
For Mola and the Dominican Republic, however, the night belonged to history. After more than four decades since the country’s first Miss World triumph, the coveted crown is once again heading to the Caribbean.