Tanzania

 African queen is crowned the 14th Miss Grand International titleholder, PH makes first cut

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

The aspired “three-peat” did not transpire. But a new player won the crown.

Jihan Dimack of Tanzania bested 79 other international delegates to win Miss Grand International 2026 at the close of glitzy rites in Bangkok.

She was crowned by outgoing queen Emma Mary Tiglao of the Philippines.

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Jihan’s court is composed of Shyare Andrade (Ecuador), Beau Megan Goos (Netherlands), Ximena Carillo (Guatemala), and Emoura Pham (Vietnam), runners-up in descending order.

The six other ladies who made it to the semifinal round (Top 11) were all named 5th runners-up. They were Marlene Kany Kovasti (Cote D’Ivoire, Best in Swimsuit), Patthama Jittsawat (Thailand), Lady Di Mosquera (Venezuela), Pety Juarez (Mexico), Alyanni Gomez (Cuba), and Vicily Carbonell (Puerto Rico).

Reina Filipinas Angelica Lopez bowed out early of the competition when she failed to place in the Top 11. She, however won as Best in National Costume with Zara Younos (Pakistan) and Yulanda Lu Xienbing (Hong Kong). Angelica was one of 25 aspirants who made the first cut.

The other ladies who placed in the quarterfinals were:

- Emily Baesen (Belgium)

- Viktoria Ozuwakotanmi (USA)

- Alba Marie Ruiz (Spain)

- Zuliet Seminario (Peru)

- Michaela Viveros (Paraguay)

- Vyan Trisni (Malaysia)

- Uzogheli Ifeoma (Nigeria)

- Emily Carmelina Aleman (Honduras)

- Catalina Murillo (Costa Rica)

- Liu Mengmeng (China)

- Ignacia Michelson (Chile)

- Francie Milian (Uruguay)

- Hana Dedkova (Czech Republic)

The national directors from the Philippines and Japan were named as Grand Silver awardees, while Tanzania was named Grand Gold awardee.

Hosted by Matthew Deane, and co-hosted by MGI queens Isabella Menin (2022), Luciana Fuster (2023), CJ Opiaza (2024), Vanessa Pulgarin (All-Star 2025), Huong Kiang Giang (All Star 2025 2nd runner up), tlhe 14th Miss Grand International coronation night unfolded at the MGI Hall in Bangkok and was beamed to a global audience through the GrandTV channel on YouTube.