Taanusiya Chetty finishes third in Miss World 2026, matches Malaysia’s best-ever result
Malaysia's Taanusiya Chetty claimed third place at the Miss World pageant in Vietnam, while Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic took the crown.
Malaysia's Taanusiya Chetty secured third place at the Miss World 2026 pageant, matching the country's best-ever result in the international competition held in Nha Trang, Vietnam, according to The Star. The grand finale took place on Saturday, 5 September 2026, marking the 73rd edition of the pageant. Taanusiya, widely known as Taanu, equaled a record previously established during the Miss World contest. Her podium finish followed a nearly month-long series of events where she competed against over a hundred contestants. During the evening gown segment, she wore a pink design crafted by Minh Tuan Couture, as reported by The Star. Her qualification for the final stages was bolstered by winning the Beauty With A Purpose segment.
The crown ultimately went to Joheirry Mola Dominguez representing the Dominican Republic, who succeeded Thailand's Opal Suchata Chuangsri. Spain's Elisabeth Reynes Alabern finished as the first runner-up. According to coverage from Free Press Journal and The Punch, the victory brought the title back to the Dominican Republic for the second time in history. Mola holds a business administration degree, works as an educator and journalist, and founded a social initiative aimed at expanding English-language education for vulnerable youth.
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Other international representatives also advanced deep into the competition rounds before bowing out. Nigerian delegate Tamunosoye Karibi-George and Filipino representative Asia Rose Simpson both reached the Top 12 stage after winning respective continental modelling fast-track events, as detailed by Cebu Bombo Radyo and The Punch. The competition structure separated participants into regional continental blocks before winnowing down through multiple elimination tiers.
Following the conclusion of the Vietnam-hosted event, organizers announced that the next iteration of the pageant is scheduled to take place in Tanzania.
| Placement | Contestant | Representing Country |
|---|---|---|
| Winner | Joheirry Mola Dominguez | Dominican Republic |
| First Runner-Up | Elisabeth Reynes Alabern | Spain |
| Second Runner-Up | Taanusiya Chetty | Malaysia |
The achievement equals the record set 28 years ago by Lina Teoh, who finished third at Miss World 1998, making them the country’s best-performing contestants in the history of the contest. Taanusiya, 26, finished among the top three after delivering impressive and consistent performances throughout the competition, beating 110 other contestants from around the world. Apart from her and Teoh, other Malaysian representatives who previously recorded strong results at the Miss World pageant include Rahimah Orchient Yayah, who advanced to the Top 10 in 1994, and Deborah Henry, who made it to the Top 16 in 2007. Taanusiya qualified for the Top Six after winning the Beauty With A Purpose segment, edging out Zimbabwe’s Brunette Makanyiso. BWAP is one of the major Miss World recognitions, awarded based on the contestants’ commitment to and impact of the community projects they champion. Throughout the competition, Taanusiya impressed the judges with her confidence, personality and impressive performances in several segments. She also captured public attention after a video of her speaking in four languages – English, Malay, Mandarin and Tamil – during the Miss World 2026 Head-to-Head Challenge on Aug 23 went viral, as noted by The Star and Malay Mail.
In the final round, Dominguez was asked about the Beauty with a Purpose initiative she supported in her country and how she would improve it if crowned, according to IBTimes.sg. She spoke about her initiative to bring English-language programs to children in vulnerable communities, stating that knowing the language opens huge doors of opportunity and gives them the ability to express feelings and communicate purpose. The 24-year-old Santo Domingo native earned a degree in Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana, also known as UNIBE. In addition to her modelling career, Mola has worked in education and communications, serving as a Literature and Social Studies teacher as well as a news correspondent. She founded the social initiative Voices of Tomorrow, which works to expand access to English education for children and young people in vulnerable communities. Her career also includes journalism and television, working as a correspondent for Univision New York's Ventana a Quisqueya, where she covers Dominican culture, social issues and stories from the community. In May 2026, she worked as a reporting correspondent for a UNICEF telethon in the Dominican Republic, covering the event for Univision, interviewing participants and helping promote the campaign that raised $24.752 million for programs supporting children, as reported by Moneycontrol, IBTimes.sg, and Free Press Journal. Earlier in March 2026, she worked as a live reporter for Univision during the Premios Soberano.
Nigeria's representative Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, bowed out of the competition after reaching the Top 12, as reported by The Punch. Karibi-George secured an automatic place in the Top 40 after winning the Africa Top Model title at the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest, defeating contestants from Botswana, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya and South Africa. She subsequently advanced to the Top 20 and Top 12 before her journey ended at the latter stage alongside contestants from Brazil, France, the Philippines, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The 26-year-old from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, represented Bayelsa State at the national pageant and was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026 in June at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos. Karibi-George is a communications professional, model, actress, voice-over artist, event host, scriptwriter, and the founder of Beyond Labels, an initiative focused on inclusion, dignity, education and empowerment for children with disabilities, special needs and neurodivergent individuals. During the Miss World competition, she participated in the Head-to-Head Challenge and Talent Competition, where she performed “Opportunity” by Sia, and used her appearances to showcase Nigerian culture with outfits highlighting the Niger Delta and national colors.
Filipino beauty queen Asia Rose Simpson also finished as a Top 12 finalist at the event held on 5 September 2026, according to Cebu Bombo Radyo. Before the Top 6 finalists were announced, the Top 12 finalists were given the opportunity to answer questions during the question-and-answer portion of the competition. Simpson showcased a rose-colored, lotus-inspired evening gown designed by Ryan Ablaza Uson during the opening ceremony of the Miss World 2026 Finals, which symbolized beauty, purity, and resilience. In addition to her performance in the finals, Simpson entered the Top 3 in the pageant's talent competition.
The 2026 Miss World pageant featured 111 contestants divided into four continental groups: Africa, the Americas and Caribbean, Europe, and Asia and Oceania. The contestants progressed through several stages, including fast-track challenges and the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12 and Top Six rounds before the winner and runners-up were selected. The final six contestants were Mola of the Dominican Republic, Reynés of Spain, Chetty of Malaysia, Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc of Vietnam, Romanda Hombir of South Africa, and Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin of Eritrea. The 2026 edition was the first time Vietnam hosted the Miss World competition and marked the organization’s 75th anniversary. The pageant featured contestants from several countries making their debut, including Eritrea, French Guiana, the Maldives, Mozambique and Pakistan. Following the crowning of Mola, the 74th edition of the Miss World pageant is scheduled to be held in Tanzania in 2027.
