Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola Dominguez won the 73rd Miss World 2026 title, defeating Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty and Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alaber.
Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who became the first contestant from her country to win the 72nd edition last year, crowned Dominguez.
Chetty finished third, while Reynés Alaber took second place. Vietnam, the host nation, secured a spot in the Top 6 through Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc.
Dominguez won the global pageant after facing the final round of questions, where judges asked the finalists about their Beauty With a Purpose causes.
During the final round, when asked, “Which Beauty with a Purpose have you supported in your country, and how would you improve it if you were crowned Miss World?”, Dominguez spoke about her initiative to take English programmes to children in vulnerable communities.
Dominguez answered, “My Beauty With a Purpose is to take English programs to kids in vulnerable communities, because I believe that when they know this language, the opportunities, the doors that can open to their life, it’s huge, big doors.”
Additionally, she explained that English was a tool that the Miss World contenders used to communicate their goals and emotions.
“For me, it’s something that I will take always in my heart, that I could give those kids… something very important. It’s a tool they’re gonna work [with] for the rest of their life,” she added.
Backstory…
The 2026 competition was the 73rd edition of Miss World, while also marking the pageant’s 75th anniversary, tracing its history back to its first edition in 1951.
For the first time, Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition, with the festival running from August 9 before culminating in the grand finale in Nha Trang on September 5. The event brought together 111 contestants from around the world, making it one of the biggest editions of the competition.
Dominguez’s victory is also significant for the Dominican Republic. It marks the country’s second Miss World title, following its first victory in 1982.
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