# Dominican Republic beauty pageant successes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-beauty-pageant-successes > Updated: 2026-09-09T16:56:09.000Z. Sources: 219. Developments: 4. In August 2026, Paola Michelle Cruz García was crowned Miss International Dominican Republic 2026 at a gala in Santo Domingo. Representing Santiago de los Caballeros, Cruz García intended to represent the nation in Tokyo, Japan, with a platform focused on mental health awareness and education. Following this, in September 2026, Joheirry Mola Domínguez won the Miss World 2026 title during the 73rd edition of the pageant held in Nha Trang, Vietnam. This victory marked the second time the Dominican Republic has won the Miss World title, the first being Mariasela Álvarez’s win in 1982. The event also celebrated the 75th anniversary of Miss World and named Georgia-Lee Gill of Trinidad and Tobago as Miss World Caribbean 2026. Mola, a 24-year-old educator, model, news correspondent, and business administration graduate, advanced through the Top 40, Top 20, Top 12, and Top 6 stages. She secured her place in the semifinals by winning the Top Model challenge for the Americas and the Caribbean. During the competition, she highlighted her social initiative, ‘Voices of Tomorrow,’ which focuses on providing English language education to children in vulnerable communities. Her platform aligns with the Miss World ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ mission, emphasizing the use of international visibility to drive social change. The competition included 111 delegates. The final podium featured Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés as the first runner-up and Malaysia’s Taanusiya Chetty as the second runner-up. Other finalists in the Top 6 included representatives from Eritrea, South Africa, and the host nation, Vietnam. Organizers also announced that the 74th edition of Miss World will be hosted in Tanzania in September 2027. ## Claims - Nigeria’s Tamunosoye Karibi-George finished in the Top 12. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Tamunosoye Karibi-George was named Africa’s Top Model 2026. (corroborated by 3 sources) - Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic won the Miss World 2026 title. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Miss World 2026 grand finale was held in Nha Trang, Vietnam. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Elisabeth Reynes Alabern of Spain was the first runner-up. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Taanusiya Chetty of Malaysia was the second runner-up. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The 2026 Miss World pageant marked the organization's 75th anniversary. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Joheirry Mola Dominguez is the second woman from the Dominican Republic to win Miss World. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Johari Mola of the Dominican Republic won Miss World 2026. (single source) - Elizabeth Ar Albarne from Spain finished as the first runner-up. (single source) - Tanusiya Chetty from Malaysia finished as the second runner-up. (single source) - Nikita Porwal represented India in the Miss World 2026 competition. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-09: Joheirry Mola Dominguez crowned Miss World 2026 Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic won Miss World 2026 in Vietnam, while Botswana’s Ruth Thomas drew attention for a diamond-encrusted gown celebrating her nation's independence. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/joheirry-mola-dominguez-crowned-miss-world-2026-1 ### 2026-09-06: Joheirry Mola crowned Miss World 2026 in Vietnam Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic has been crowned Miss World 2026 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, becoming the country's second winner in the pageant's history. 39 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/joheirry-mola-dominguez-crowned-miss-world-2026 ### 2026-09-04: Joheirry Mola crowned Miss World 2026 Joheirry Mola of the Dominican Republic has been crowned Miss World 2026 in Nha Trang, Vietnam, marking the country's second win in the pageant's history. 180 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tamunosoye-karibi-george-receives-nigerian-support-for-miss-world-final ### 2026-08-25: Paola Michelle Cruz García crowned Miss International Dominican Republic 2026 Paola Michelle Cruz García has been crowned Miss International Dominican Republic 2026. She will represent the country at the global Miss International pageant in Tokyo, Japan, this November. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/paola-michelle-cruz-garca-crowned-miss-international-dominican-republic-2026 --- Cite as: Dominican Republic beauty pageant successes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/dominican-republic-beauty-pageant-successes