South Africa’s Romanda Hombir has been crowned Miss World Africa 2026 after advancing to the Top 6 of the Miss World 2026 competition in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
The 27-year-old clinical audiologist and community health advocate secured the continental title after a strong run at the 73rd Miss World finale on Saturday, September 5. While the Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola Dominguez took home the global crown, Africa had plenty to celebrate, with Eritrea’s Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin also reaching the Top 6 and Nigeria’s Tamunosoye Karibi-George finishing in the Top 12.
Read: 5 Africans Who Have Held the Miss World Title
Romanda Hombir Secures Miss World Africa 2026 Title
Hombir’s journey to the final six was built through several stages of the competition. Representing South Africa, she first secured her place in the Top 40 after winning the African continental Head-to-Head Challenge.
She continued to advance through the Top 20 and Top 12 before earning a place in the final six contestants competing for the Miss World crown.
Although she did not win the global title, her performance earned her the Miss World Africa 2026 title and gave South Africa its highest Miss World placement since 2014.
Hombir also used the international platform to highlight healthcare through her Beauty with a Purpose project. Her initiative, operated through the Caring Purpose Foundation, focuses on mobile health screenings and raising awareness about women’s healthcare in underserved communities.
Her success adds another notable chapter to South Africa’s history at one of the world’s biggest beauty pageants.
Eritrea Makes History as Nigeria’s Soye Reaches Top 12
Hombir was joined in the Top 6 by Eritrea’s Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin, who made history as the country’s first representative at Miss World.
The 27-year-old neuroscience graduate and educator secured her place among the finalists after winning the global People’s Choice vote with more than 13 million votes. Her advocacy project, Designing for Diversity, focuses on creating more inclusive educational environments for children with disabilities.
Nigeria also had a strong showing through Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye. The 26-year-old communications professional from Port Harcourt reached the Top 12 after finishing among the two highest-voted contestants in the People’s Choice category.
Soye had already secured a place in the Top 40 after winning the Africa Top Model title at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest. She then progressed through the Top 20 before ending her journey in the Top 12.
Read: Tamunosoye Karibi-George Crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026
African Advocacy Takes Centre Stage
Beyond the rankings, the performances of the African delegates reflected the wider advocacy focus of Miss World.
Soye used her platform to draw attention to environmental challenges in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, a region she described as rich in rivers, forests and oil but affected by the consequences of exploitation. Her advocacy platform, Beyond Labels, also focuses on inclusion and opportunities for children with disabilities and special needs.
Tewoldemedhin’s Designing for Diversity campaign similarly focuses on inclusion, particularly for children with disabilities, while Hombir’s project addresses access to healthcare for women in underserved communities.
With Hombir claiming the Miss World Africa title, Tewoldemedhin making history for Eritrea and Soye reaching the Top 12, the 2026 Miss World finale gave African representation plenty to celebrate.
The global crown ultimately went to Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic, who became the country’s second Miss World, 44 years after its first victory in 1982.
From pageant stages to global advocacy platforms, African women continue to take their stories, causes and communities to the world. Follow RefinedNG for more stories celebrating African talent, culture and achievement.