Dominican Joheirry Mola wins Miss World 2026 crown in Vietnam

Joheirry Mola, a 24-year-old teacher and communicator from the Dominican Republic, won the Miss World 2026 crown on Saturday in Vietnam. She defeated Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés in a final held in a public square in the coastal city of Nha Trang.

Mola was the only one of the 111 contestants to speak in Spanish during the five-hour ceremony. Brief rain showers caused delays and sent spectators seeking shelter.

Asked a final question, Mola defended teaching English to children in schools, saying it would broaden their opportunities to learn and communicate with the world.

She had secured a place among the 40 semifinalists after winning the regional catwalk challenge for the Americas and the Caribbean. The preliminary competitions began in the second week of August, with contestants from Mexico, Colombia, Argentina and Venezuela among those in her group.

Spain finished second and won the pageant’s European continental title. Malaysia, South Africa, Vietnam and Eritrea also reached the final six. Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who won the title in India in May 2025, passed the crown to Mola. Organizers said the 74th edition will take place in Tanzania in September 2027.

Miss World groups contestants into four regions and ensures equal representation among the 40 semifinalists. Unlike Miss Universe, the British-origin competition does not include a swimsuit parade and has increasingly given contestants space to discuss social causes and current affairs.