All roads lead to Nha Trang, Vietnam, on Saturday as Nigeria’s representative at the 2026 Miss World Festival, Queen Tamunosoye Karibi-George, takes centre stage in the competition’s grand finale, with a high-powered Nigerian delegation mobilising support for the Rivers State-born beauty queen.
The finale has generated excitement among Nigerians in Vietnam following Karibi-George’s impressive run in the competition, which has seen her secure a place among the Top 40 contestants and emerge as one of the African contestants attracting significant attention.
Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, earned her place in the Top 40 after navigating the preliminary stages of the competition, strengthening Nigeria’s hopes of recording a strong finish at the global pageant.
Her campaign has also been built around the Miss World philosophy of “Beauty With a Purpose,” with her advocacy and public engagements helping to position her as more than a contestant competing for a crown.
A high-powered Federal Government delegation is in Nha Trang to support the Nigerian representative. President Bola Tinubu is represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who is leading the delegation.
Rivers State is also strongly represented, with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications, Dr Honor Sirawoo, mni, representing Governor Siminalayi Fubara and leading the state delegation.
Among other prominent Nigerians in Vietnam is Prof Steve Azaiki, former Secretary to the Bayelsa State Government and former member of the House of Representatives, who also serves as Chairman of Miss World Nigeria.
Also present is Engr Udengs Eradiri, a Bayelsa-based activist and politician, while the Silverbird Group delegation is led by the National Director of Miss World Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce.
Karibi-George’s family has equally travelled to Vietnam to stand behind her, with her parents, Barrister Karibi and Mrs Ebitari George, joined by her uncle, Dr Dawari George, a former member of the House of Representatives, alongside other members of the Prince George Group of Houses from Buguma, Rivers State, and the Aganaba Royal Family of Odi, Bayelsa State.
The TeamSoye lead, Prince Iwefa Aganaba, described the finale as a “coronation ceremony” celebrating beauty, purpose and national pride.
The strong African solidarity behind the Nigerian contestant has further heightened expectations, with supporters describing the level of continental backing for Soye as unprecedented in the history of the competition.
Karibi-George’s journey to the Miss World stage has been closely followed in Nigeria since she was crowned Miss World Nigeria 2026. Her emergence has particularly resonated in Rivers State, where her success has been celebrated as a source of pride for the state and the wider Niger Delta.
With the grand finale now upon the contestants, attention is focused on whether the Nigerian beauty queen can convert her strong preliminary showing into a place among the finalists and ultimately challenge for the coveted Miss World crown.
For the Nigerian delegation in Nha Trang, however, the message is unequivocal: Nigeria is ready, Nigeria is here, and the day belongs to Soye.