Introducing the 26-year-old Nigerian beauty set to compete in the upcoming Miss World 2026 pageant held in Vietnam

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Tamunosoye Karibi-George, the newly crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026, has arrived in Vietnam and is currently representing Nigeria at the ongoing 73rd Miss World Festival.

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The 26-year-old beauty queen from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is among contestants from different countries competing for the coveted Miss World crown.

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Karibi-George was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos, emerging winner from a field of 20 finalists.

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She represented Bayelsa State during the Miss World Nigeria competition, although she is a native of Port Harcourt in Rivers State.

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Karibi-George has now joined other contestants in Vietnam for the various activities and challenges leading up to the grand finale of the global pageant.

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Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, is a trained communications professional with an interest in advocacy, public engagement and social development.

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She studied at Madonna University, Okija, after her secondary education at Obiye High School and Obiye Academy.

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She is also an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

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Beyond her career and pageantry, Karibi-George has built a reputation around advocacy for children with special needs.

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She is the founder of Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on inclusion, dignity and empowerment for children with special needs.

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Through the initiative, she advocates for a society where children are not defined by their disabilities or circumstances but are given the opportunity to discover their abilities, develop their talents and pursue their ambitions.

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Her advocacy work has also become an important part of her identity as a beauty queen.

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Karibi-George is not new to international pageantry. Before winning the Miss World Nigeria crown, she emerged winner of Miss Africa International 2024 in Accra, Ghana.

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That experience gave her exposure to international pageantry and helped prepare her for the global Miss World stage.

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She eventually defeated 19 other finalists to emerge Miss World Nigeria 2026 and succeed Joy Mojisola Raimi, who represented Nigeria at the 72nd Miss World pageant in India.

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Raimi made it to the Top 20 at the global competition and was also ranked among the leading African contestants.

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Karibi-George will now attempt to go further in the competition and potentially become Nigeria’s next Miss World.

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Ahead of her trip to Vietnam, Karibi-George described the opportunity as more than a beauty competition.

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In a Facebook post on August 7, she wrote, “With purpose in my heart, I depart Nigeria to represent our great nation at the 73rd Miss World Festival in Vietnam.”

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She added, “This journey is about more than competing for the Blue Crown. It is about representing the strength, culture, tenacity, and compassion of our nation, while continuing to champion the Beyond Labels Initiative and the belief that every individual deserves to be seen for their potential.”

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“Vietnam is calling, and Nigeria is coming,” she wrote.

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Now in Vietnam, Karibi-George is participating in the ongoing Miss World activities as contestants compete across different stages of the festival.

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The competition goes beyond physical appearance, with contestants expected to demonstrate intelligence, confidence, communication skills, purpose and commitment to social causes.

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For Karibi-George, her Beyond Labels advocacy provides a platform to bring the experiences and challenges of children with special needs to a wider audience.

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The Nigerian representative is also expected to showcase aspects of the country’s culture and identity throughout the competition.

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Her participation comes as Nigeria seeks another strong showing at the Miss World pageant following Raimi’s Top 20 finish at the previous edition.

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The 73rd Miss World Festival is taking place in Vietnam, with contestants participating in a series of activities, challenges and engagements before the final.

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As the competition progresses, attention will now turn to how far Karibi-George can go in the race for the Blue Crown.

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For the woman from Port Harcourt, however, the journey is not only about winning a crown.

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It is also an opportunity to tell Nigeria’s story, promote her advocacy and demonstrate that beauty, purpose and social impact can exist on the same stage.

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