Twenty-six-year-old Tamunosoye Karibi-George is flying Nigeria’s flag at the 73rd Miss World Festival currently taking place in Vietnam, following her emergence as Miss World Nigeria 2026.
The Port Harcourt-born beauty queen secured the national title after defeating 19 other finalists at the grand finale held at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
Although she hails from Rivers State, Karibi-George competed under the Bayelsa State banner during the national pageant.
She is currently in Vietnam alongside contestants from different countries, participating in a series of events, challenges and activities leading up to the Miss World grand finale.
However, Karibi-George’s profile extends beyond beauty contests. She is a trained communications professional with interests spanning advocacy, public relations, community engagement and social development.
She attended Obiye High School and Obiye Academy before proceeding to Madonna University, Okija, for her higher education. She is also an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
A major focus of her public advocacy is the inclusion and empowerment of children with special needs.
Through her Beyond Labels Initiative, Karibi-George promotes the idea that children should not be judged or defined by disabilities or personal circumstances. Instead, she advocates for equal opportunities that enable them to discover their talents, develop their abilities and pursue their dreams.
Her advocacy has become an integral part of her pageant journey, providing her with an international platform to highlight the challenges faced by children with special needs and promote a more inclusive society.
Karibi-George also has previous experience on the international pageant circuit. Before winning the Miss World Nigeria 2026 crown, she was crowned Miss Africa International 2024 in Accra, Ghana.
She succeeds Joy Mojisola Raimi, Nigeria’s representative at the 72nd Miss World competition in India, where she finished among the Top 20 contestants.
Ahead of her trip to Vietnam, Karibi-George made it clear that her participation in the global pageant was driven by a purpose beyond winning a crown.
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.”
She explained that her mission was not simply to compete for the coveted Blue Crown but also to showcase Nigeria’s strength, culture, resilience and compassion while advancing the goals of her Beyond Labels Initiative.
“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,” she stated.
Concluding her message, the beauty queen declared: “Vietnam is calling, and Nigeria is coming.”
As the Miss World Festival continues, Karibi-George will take part in activities designed to assess contestants’ communication abilities, confidence, intelligence, purpose and commitment to social causes.
For Nigeria’s representative, the competition presents an opportunity to compete for one of the world’s most prestigious beauty titles while also showcasing Nigerian culture and using the international platform to promote inclusion and empowerment for children with special needs.
Her journey in Vietnam therefore represents not only a quest for the Miss World crown but also an opportunity to amplify a message of purpose, inclusion and equal opportunity on the global stage.
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