Miss World 2026: Four contestants advance to Top 40

Four contestants have secured direct spots in the Top 40 of Miss World 2026 following the Head to Head Challenge. The winners represent their respective continental regions: Romanda Hombir from South Africa, Asia Rose Simpson from the Philippines, Georgia-Lee Gill from Trinidad & Tobago, and Julia Kühnle from Germany.

In the Asia-Oceania region, Philippines representative Asia Rose Simpson won the challenge, while Vietnam's Lê Nguyễn Bảo Ngọc placed in the top five. During her presentation, Bảo Ngọc addressed climate change, describing it as a “humanitarian disaster” and an “injustice” between generations. She highlighted her Gen Zero project, which aims to equip young leaders with tools to influence systemic policy changes.

The winners' backgrounds include Romanda Hombir, an audiologist; Asia Rose Simpson, an 18-year-old author and illustrator; Georgia-Lee Gill, a biology and biochemistry graduate; and Julia Kühnle, a political science and economics graduate currently pursuing an MBA.