The Federal Government has called on Nigerians at home and abroad to rally behind Nigeria’s representative at the Miss World 2026 competition, Tamunosoye Karibi-George, popularly known as Soye, as public voting enters a decisive stage.
The Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, made the appeal on Friday, praising Soye for her performance at the global pageant and urging Nigerians to support her through the official voting platform.
Musawa said Soye’s emergence as Africa’s Top Model and her qualification for the Top 40 were achievements that had made Nigerians proud. She also commended the beauty queen for using the international platform to promote Nigeria and draw attention to issues affecting young people.
The minister urged Nigerians to vote, share information about the voting process and encourage others to support the Nigerian contestant as the competition moves toward its final stages.
The call is particularly significant because the official Miss World format gives the public a direct role in determining part of the competition's progression. According to the Miss World organisation, the first round of the People’s Choice vote, which determines the four continental winners, closes at 10 p.m. Vietnam time on September 4, 2026. Voting will subsequently continue through later stages, with public votes helping determine one of the contestants who can advance to the Top 6.
Soye is already among the Top 40 contestants and has secured the Africa Top Model title, giving Nigeria a strong position as the competition approaches the grand finale.
The official voting platform identifies Soye as Nigeria’s contestant and describes her as a communications professional, voice-over artist and model. It also highlights her interest in community service, youth mentoring and inclusion.
Karibi-George, 26, emerged as Miss World Nigeria 2026 after winning the national competition in Lagos, where she defeated 19 other finalists. Although she is from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, she represented Bayelsa State during the national pageant.
Beyond pageantry, Soye is the founder of the Beyond Labels initiative, which focuses on inclusion and empowerment for children with special needs. She has presented her participation in Miss World as an opportunity to represent Nigeria's culture and values while continuing her advocacy work.
She also won Miss Africa International 2024 in Accra, Ghana, before securing the Miss World Nigeria crown. Her latest success as Africa’s Top Model has further strengthened Nigeria’s presence in the ongoing international competition.
The Federal Government had previously expressed support for Soye’s participation in the global pageant. At a send-forth event in Abuja in August, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, presented her as Nigeria’s representative and described the competition as an opportunity to showcase Nigerian culture, creativity and the achievements of Nigerian women.
The Miss World competition is being staged in Vietnam as part of the pageant's 75th-anniversary edition. The official Miss World format states that the competition progresses from the Top 40 to the Top 20, Top 12 and Top 6 before the final three positions are determined.
For Soye, the immediate focus is on maximising public support while the People’s Choice voting window remains open. Nigerians wishing to support her are advised to use the official Miss World voting platform and follow the instructions provided there rather than relying on unverified voting links circulated online.
The Federal Government’s appeal therefore places the spotlight on Soye’s campaign at a crucial point in the competition, with Nigeria hoping that her strong performance and public support will help her progress further toward the Miss World crown.
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