Joheirry Mola of the Dominican Republic has been crowned Miss World 2026, ending a 44-year wait for the Caribbean nation to reclaim the prestigious title.
Mola, 24, was crowned on Saturday at the grand finale of the 73rd Miss World competition held at 2 April Square in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
She succeeds Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who won the title in 2025.
Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés was named first runner-up, while Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty finished as second runner-up.
Mola’s victory marks only the second time that a contestant from the Dominican Republic has won the Miss World crown. The country’s first victory came in 1982 when Mariasela Álvarez was crowned Miss World.
The 2026 competition brought together 111 contestants from around the world during a four-week festival in Vietnam.
Mola progressed through several stages of the competition, making the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12 and finally the Top Six, where she emerged as the overall winner representing the Americas and Caribbean region.
Her performance was strengthened by her success in the Top Model Challenge, which she won for the Americas and Caribbean, earning her a place in the Top 40.
Beyond the pageant, Mola has built her public profile around education and community service.
A graduate of Business Management and Administration from Universidad Iberoamericana, she works as an educator and communicator, teaching Literature and Social Studies in English.
She is also the founder of Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative that promotes English-language education among children and young people in vulnerable communities.
Through the initiative, Mola seeks to help young people develop confidence, critical thinking, self-expression and skills that can improve their access to future opportunities.
Her social-impact work featured prominently during the final stages of the competition.
When asked how she would develop her Beauty With a Purpose work if crowned Miss World, Mola spoke about expanding access to English education for vulnerable children and young people.
She described language education as a tool that can help children express themselves while opening opportunities in education and employment.
Mola’s victory has triggered celebrations across the Dominican Republic, with President Luis Abinader and other senior officials congratulating her on the achievement.
President Abinader described the victory as a source of national pride, while Vice-President Raquel Peña praised Mola’s preparation and determination.
Álvarez, who became the Dominican Republic’s first Miss World in 1982, also congratulated Mola, saying the victory was particularly emotional after more than four decades of waiting for another Dominican woman to claim the crown.
The Miss World final also marked the end of Suchata Chuangsri’s reign. The Thai beauty became the first woman from Thailand to win the title when she was crowned in India in 2025.
Mola now begins her reign as the 73rd Miss World, with her education-focused ‘Voices of Tomorrow’ initiative expected to form a central part of her work on the international platform.
The 2026 competition was also historic for Vietnam, which hosted the Miss World festival for the first time. The four-week programme included cultural activities, charity engagements, challenge events and visits across the country before culminating in the final in Nha Trang.
