Tamunosoye Karibi-George, the reigning Miss Bayelsa, has emerged as Miss World Nigeria 2026 after defeating 36 other contestants at the grand finale held in Lagos.
The highly anticipated event took place at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, where representatives from across the country competed for the prestigious crown following a week-long camp focused on leadership, advocacy, and community development.
Karibi-George secured victory after advancing through several stages of the competition and outperforming finalists from Edo, Anambra, Rivers, and Abuja in the final round.
Announcing the winner, Silverbird Group executive Guy Murray-Bruce commended the Bayelsa beauty queen for her confidence, advocacy, and impressive performance throughout the contest.
With the victory, Tamunosoye succeeds Joy Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the last Miss World competition and finished among the top 20 globally.
The new queen will now carry Nigeria’s flag at the 73rd Miss World Pageant scheduled to hold in Vietnam, where contestants from over 140 countries are expected to compete.
Beyond beauty, Karibi-George is also known for her advocacy work through Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on promoting inclusion and support for children with special needs.
Speaking after her victory, she said her mission is to challenge stereotypes and ensure children with special needs are recognised for their talents, creativity, and potential rather than their limitations.
Before winning Miss World Nigeria, she had also represented Nigeria at Miss Africa International 2024, where she emerged winner in Ghana.
Source: Miss World Nigeria / Silverbird Group.
