Meet the African Queens Competing for the Miss World 2026 Crown

Twenty-five African women are among the contestants at the 73rd Miss World, currently underway in Vietnam and building toward the grand final in Nha Trang on September 5, 2026. Since the festival opened on August 9, the delegates have gone through the Sash Ceremony in Haiphong, the Top Model challenge at Dragon Beach Square, a Sports Challenge and other early rounds as they compete for one of the 40 spots in the main tournament. The group includes students, entrepreneurs, medical professionals and advocates, each representing a different corner of the continent.

Botswana — Ruth Thomas

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Ruth, 24, works as a Beauty Advisor in Masunga. Her focus is helping young people build self-confidence and self-expression.

Cameroon — Raissa Noura Njikam

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Raissa, 26, was born and raised in Yaoundé. She founded and leads the NOUNJI Foundation, which supports women and young people affected by violence.

Côte d’ivoiee — Fatima Koné

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Fatima, 23, is from Bouaké. She balances school and modelling with youth advocacy, and is currently developing a business incubator to mentor early-stage entrepreneurs.

Equatorial Guinea — María de los Ángeles Ndong

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María, 25, is from Malabo. Her advocacy centres on expanding access to education and building sustainable community outreach programmes.

Eritrea — Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin

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Snit, 26, is a Montessori educator, parent mentor and founder of Designing for Diversity, a nonprofit focused on creating inclusive learning opportunities for children of all abilities. She has a background in neuroscience and also creates Montessori learning resources and manages nonprofit programmes.

Ethiopia — Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilassie

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Ruth is a Culture Ambassador of Ethiopia, marketer, coffee Q grader, makeup artist and founder of Crown of TAYTU. She holds a degree in Marketing Management and is passionate about celebrating Ethiopian culture while empowering women and young people through education, entrepreneurship and service.

Ghana — Rumzia Sule

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Rumzia, 22, is a flight attendant, communications professional and MBA student. With a background in public relations and diplomatic administration, she uses her Project Inspire Ghana initiative to mentor young people and encourage entrepreneurship.

Guinea — Saran Keita

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Saran, 26, is a cultural and event entrepreneur with a degree in International Relations. She is dedicated to promoting Guinean culture and creating opportunities for her community, while also pursuing humanitarian work and hoping to advocate for women in the future.

Guinea-Bissau — Hernânia Nantote

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Hernânia, 26, brings Guinea-Bissau back to the Miss World stage after an absence. Her work centres on youth literacy and community development.

Kenya — Trizah Muhenje Akala

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Trizah studied Tourism Management and works in travel marketing and event management, using the platform to promote East African hospitality, eco-tourism and cultural heritage.

Malawi — Ireen Navicha

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Ireen is a student, model and community advocate. Her advocacy focuses on youth empowerment, particularly expanding access to secondary education and leadership training.

Morocco — Chirihan Chergui

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Chirihan is a technology entrepreneur with a Master’s degree in Software Engineering. She is passionate about innovation, culture and social impact, and hopes to use technology and entrepreneurship to create opportunities for young people, especially girls.

Mozambique — Arcénia Quehá

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Arcénia works with regional initiatives focused on sustainable local development, youth engagement and environmental awareness.

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Elly is studying Software Development, with plans to continue into honours and a master’s degree in Data Analytics. She dreams of becoming a remote software engineer and creating technology solutions that have a positive impact.

Nigeria — Tamunosoye “Soye” Karibi-George

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Soye, 26, is from Port Harcourt and works as a communications strategist, voice-over artist and model. She’s an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and leads the Beyond Labels initiative, which pushes for inclusion and better resources for neurodivergent children and children with special needs.

Senegal — Fatoumata Diop

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Fatoumata works as a marketing strategist, writer and storyteller. Her advocacy centres on mental health, pushing for accessible support systems for young people across West Africa.

Sierra Leone — Maryam Lorba Konneh

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Maryam’s platform focuses on expanding vocational training and skill-acquisition programmes for young women.

Somalia — Foziya Abdullahi Garad

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Foziya is an aspiring pilot and university student. She hopes to inspire young women across the Horn of Africa to consider careers outside the traditional path.

South Africa — Romanda Hombir

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Romanda, 27, is a professional audiologist who speaks English, Siswati, IsiZulu, Afrikaans and South African Sign Language. Through her Caring Purpose Foundation, she works to expand healthcare access and resources for people with hearing loss.

South Sudan — Nyandeng Kerubino Kuanyin Bol

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Nyandeng holds a degree in International Relations and Communication Studies and works in medical sales. Her advocacy is built around health communication and social policy reform.

Tanzania — Latricia Ian Sawe

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Latricia is studying Banking and Finance while working in brand representation. Her social impact project focuses on autism awareness and building supportive learning environments for children with special needs.

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Trivia has a background in aviation and runs her own cosmetics brand. She uses her business network to support vulnerable children and campaign against gender-based violence.

Zambia — Dr Adah Mushibi

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Dr Adah is a medical doctor volunteering at the University Teaching Hospital, and also works as a Chinese-language interpreter. She hopes to become a surgeon and advocates for disability-inclusive healthcare.

Zimbabwe — Brunette Makanyiso

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Brunette’s platform is centred on grassroots community development, with an emphasis on youth employment and vocational skills training.

Mauritius — Shreeya Bokhoree

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Shreeya is a Project Lead and Marketing Executive at the Chartreuse Group of Companies. She holds a First Class Honours degree in Advertising, PR, and Branding and works in promoting innovation in the agricultural sector. She hopes to help revolutionise the Mauritian tea industry by showcasing its heritage and quality.