Tamunosoye Karibi-George, representing Bayelsa State, has been crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 after emerging victorious at the national beauty pageant’s grand finale held in Lagos.
The 26-year-old beauty queen outperformed 20 other finalists to secure the prestigious title during the competition, which attracted contestants from different parts of the country.
This year’s pageant was held under the theme, “Pride, Power, and Purpose,” and featured several segments, including talent displays, interview sessions, and evening gown presentations.
Originally from Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Karibi-George will now carry Nigeria’s flag at the 73rd Miss World Festival scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, between Aug. 9 and Sept. 5.
She succeeds Joy Raimi, who held the Miss World Nigeria title in 2025 and represented the country at the 72nd edition of the global competition in Hyderabad, India, where she finished among the Top 20 contestants and ranked in the Top Five from Africa.
Founder of the Silverbird Group and former senator representing Bayelsa East, Ben Murray-Bruce, congratulated the new queen and praised her commitment to social impact.
In a message shared on X, he announced her victory and described her as a young woman whose influence extends beyond the pageant stage.
According to him, Karibi-George’s advocacy initiative, Beyond Labels, promotes inclusion, dignity, and empowerment for children living with special needs.
He noted that the project seeks to create supportive environments where children are encouraged to pursue their ambitions and understand that their circumstances should not limit their future opportunities.
Murray-Bruce also commended her intelligence, confidence, and sense of purpose, qualities he said contributed to her emergence as winner of the competition.
He expressed confidence in her ability to represent Nigeria positively on the international stage and encouraged her to continue inspiring others through her advocacy and leadership.
The Miss World Nigeria pageant remains one of the country’s most recognised beauty competitions and serves as the platform for selecting Nigeria’s representative at the annual Miss World contest.