Miss World 2026: Meet the 24 African Contestants Representing Their Countries in Vietnam

Vietnam is currently playing host to women from around the world as the Miss World 2026 Festival gets into full swing, with 24 African contestants in the mix. Representing countries across West, East, Central, North and Southern Africa, these women are bringing much more than their pageant credentials to the competition.

Since the festival began on 9 August, the contestants have already taken part in the Sash Ceremony in Haiphong, the Top Model challenge at Dragon Beach Square, the Sports Challenge and several other activities ahead of the grand finale on 5 September in Nha Trang.

With the competition for the official Top 40 underway, Africa’s delegates have plenty to introduce themselves through. There are entrepreneurs, students, medical professionals, models, advocates and creatives among them, each with a cause or ambition that goes beyond the pageant stage.

Here are the 24 African women representing their countries at Miss World 2026:

Botswana: Ruth Thomas

Working as a professional Beauty Advisor in Masunga, 24-year-old Ruth Thomas centers her personal mission on building self-confidence and self-expression among young people across her home country

Cameroon: Raissa Noura Njikam

Born and raised in Yaoundé, 26-year-old Raissa Noura Njikam channels her entrepreneurial background into humanitarian action. She serves as the founder and president of the NOUNJI Foundation, an initiative established to support women and youth affected by violence.

Côte d’Ivoire: Fatima Koné

Hailing from Bouaké, 23-year-old Fatima Koné balances her academic pursuits and modeling career with youth advocacy. She is currently building a business incubator framework designed to mentor early-stage entrepreneurs.

Equatorial Guinea: María de los Ángeles Ndong

Carrying the flag from Malabo, 25-year-old María de los Ángeles Ndong focuses her national advocacy on expanding educational access and developing sustainable community outreach schemes.

Eritrea: Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin

Marking a historic moment as Eritrea’s debut representative at Miss World, 26-year-old Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin discovered her calling for social advocacy through youth media platforms as a teenager, and now champions youth leadership programmes on the global stage.

Ethiopia: Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilassie

Representing Addis Ababa, 21-year-old Ruth Yirgalem Weldesilassie divides her time between university studies and grassroots community work, focusing primarily on projects that provide direct support to vulnerable children.

Ghana: Rumzia Sule

22-year-old Rumzia Sule earned her ticket to Vietnam after being crowned Miss Ghana in Accra. Coming from the North East Region, her main focus centers on educational outreach and skill development for young girls in underserved areas.

Guinea: Saran Keita

From Kankan, 26-year-old Saran Keita directs her energy toward public health education, leading grassroots initiatives that promote maternal wellness and economic self-sufficiency for rural women.

Guinea-Bissau: Hernânia Nantote

26-year-old Hernânia Nantote brings Guinea-Bissau back to the Miss World platform, using her voice to push for improved youth literacy rates and structured local community development.

Kenya: Trizah Muhenje Akala

A graduate in Tourism Management, Trizah Muhenje Akala applies her background in travel marketing and event management to showcase East African hospitality, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage during the global competition.

Malawi: Ireen Navicha

Active as a student, model, and community advocate, Ireen Navicha concentrates her advocacy on youth empowerment, working to expand access to quality secondary education and leadership training workshops.

Morocco: Chirihan Chergui

Adding North African representation to the continental cohort, Chirihan Chergui uses her platform to promote cross-cultural communication and advocate for improved educational resources for young women.

Mozambique: Arcenia Quehá

Representing Mozambique, Arcenia Quehá works closely with regional initiatives that address sustainable local development, youth engagement, and environmental awareness.

Namibia: Elly Aron

Currently studying Software Development with plans to specialize in Data Analytics, Elly Aron merges tech ambition with creative pursuits like spoken-word poetry, public speaking, and mental wellness advocacy.

Nigeria: Tamunosoye Karibi-George

A 26-year-old communications strategist, voice-over artist, and model from Port Harcourt, Tamunosoye “Soye” Karibi-George is an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. She leads the Beyond Labels initiative, advocating for inclusion, dignity, and better resources for neurodivergent children and those with special needs.

Senegal: Fatoumata Diop

A professional marketing strategist, writer, and storyteller, Fatoumata Diop places mental health awareness at the center of her work, advocating for accessible support systems for youth across West Africa.

Sierra Leone: Maryam Lorba Konneh

Carrying Sierra Leone’s flag, Maryam Lorba Konneh focuses her national platform on expanding vocational training programmes and skill-acquisition workshops for young women.

Somalia: Foziya Abdullahi Garad

An aspiring pilot and university student, Foziya Abdullahi Garad brings her enthusiasm for aviation to the global stage, inspiring young women across the Horn of Africa to pursue non-traditional career paths.

South Africa: Romanda Hombir

A 27-year-old professional audiologist, Romanda Hombir is multilingual, speaking English, Siswati, IsiZulu, Afrikaans, and South African Sign Language. Through her Caring Purpose Foundation, she works to expand healthcare access and provide assistive resources for individuals with hearing loss.

South Sudan: Nyandeng Kerubino Kuanyin Bol

Holding a degree in International Relations and Communication Studies, Nyandeng Kerubino Kuanyin Bol works as a Medical Sales professional, focusing her advocacy on health communication and social policy reform.

Tanzania: Latricia Ian Sawe

A Banking and Finance student working in brand representation, Latricia Ian Sawe centers her social impact project on autism awareness and creating supportive educational environments for children with special needs.

Uganda: Trivia Elle Muhoza

An entrepreneur with an aviation background, Trivia Elle Muhoza manages her own cosmetics brand while utilizing her business network to support vulnerable children and campaign against gender-based violence.

Zambia: Dr Adah Mushibi

A medical doctor volunteering at the University Teaching Hospital while working as a professional Chinese-language interpreter, Dr Adah Mushibi aims to become a surgeon while advocating for equitable, disability-inclusive healthcare access.

Zimbabwe: Brunette Makanyiso

Representing Zimbabwe, Brunette Makanyiso concentrates her platform on grassroots community development, with a strong focus on youth employment and vocational skills training

 

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