Joheirry Mola Dominguez, a 24-year-old model, teacher and education advocate from the Dominican Republic, defeated 110 contestants to claim the crown, with Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern and Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finishing as runners-up.
BY PC Burau
September 5, 2026: Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic was crowned Miss World 2026 on Saturday at April 2 Square in Nha Trang, Khánh Hòa, bringing the Caribbean nation its second title in the history of the global beauty pageant.
The 24-year-old model, teacher and communicator succeeded Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who placed the crown on her head at the conclusion of the 73rd edition of the Miss World competition. The event also marked the pageant’s 75th anniversary and featured 111 contestants from across the world.
Mola became only the second woman from the Dominican Republic to win the Miss World title, 44 years after Mariasela Álvarez claimed the crown in 1982.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern was named first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finished as second runner-up.
The final six also included Eritrea’s Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin, who earned her place through the People’s Choice route; Vietnam’s Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc, representing Asia and Oceania; and South Africa’s Romanda Hombir, representing Africa.
Host-country favourite Bảo Ngọc’s progression to the final six was one of the highlights of the competition. The Philippines’ Asia Rose Simpson reached the Top 12, while India’s Nikita Porwal advanced to the Top 40 but did not make the Top 20.
Mola’s victory was closely linked to her social-impact work. A graduate in Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), she teaches Literature and Social Studies in English and founded Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative focused on expanding access to English-language education for children and young people in vulnerable communities.
She also works as a correspondent for Univision New York’s Ventana a Quisqueya.
Her advocacy featured prominently during the Beauty With a Purpose segment, one of the defining elements of the Miss World competition. Mola said her project seeks to bring English-language programmes to children in vulnerable communities, arguing that proficiency in English can open opportunities and help young people transform their lives.
De Asia la corona viaja a América. 🔥🥳
Joheirry Mola, de República Dominicana 🇩🇴, es proclamada como la ganadora de la edición 75 del #MissWorld. 💠
1.ª finalista: España 🇪🇸
2.ª finalista: Malasia 🇲🇾 pic.twitter.com/AQnXnf8TGe— FarandulerosVE (@FarandulerosVe) September 5, 2026
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Her project was among the factors that strengthened her position in the competition. She had earlier won the Americas & Caribbean Top Model challenge, earning an automatic place in the Top 40.
The competition followed the Miss World format of combining traditional pageant rounds with interviews, fast-track challenges and social-impact initiatives. Contestants were divided into four continental groups — Africa, Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania — before the field was progressively reduced from the Top 40 to the Top 20, Top 12 and finally the Top 6.
Founded in Britain in 1951 by Eric Morley, Miss World has increasingly placed its Beauty With a Purpose programme at the centre of the competition, alongside the traditional elements of the pageant.
44 years after Mariasela Álvarez, Joheirry Mola just brought the Miss World crown BACK to the Dominican Republic.
Vietnam, 2026. The world just watched a new queen rise.#MissWorld2026 #JoheirryMola pic.twitter.com/c1eL2m8kf2— Bilyamin..🦅🇳🇬 (@nigerianpapi_ng) September 5, 2026
The 2026 edition saw first-time participation from French Guiana, Eritrea, Mozambique, Pakistan and the Maldives. Several contestants, including Ecuador’s Samantha Quenedit, Armenia’s Monika Harutjunjan and Togo’s Nadiratou Afolabi, withdrew from the competition.
With her victory in Vietnam, Mola now becomes the latest ambassador of the Miss World organisation, with her education initiative expected to remain a central part of her year-long tenure.
The next Miss World competition is scheduled to be held in Tanzania.
