Miss World pageant retains ‘continental’ format in 2026 competition
As in the previous edition, the Miss World pageant will again draw qualifiers with equal representation among the four regional groupings mainly based on the continents, all the way to the final round of competition.
Forty delegates, 10 each from Africa, Americas and the Caribbean, Asia and Oceania, and Europe, will advance to the quarterfinals, and each group will have their respective winners in the fast-track competitions.
The continental winners of Beauty with a Purpose, Multimedia, Head-to-Head, Top Model, and People’s Choice will be joined by the five picks made by the judges from the four groups to make up the four continental Top 10.
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In last year’s edition, however, there were no regional winners of the fast-track competition. The top delegates in the pre-final contests were included in their respective group’s continental Top 10 in the quarterfinals.
And like in last year’s edition, the 2026 contest will still have equal representation among the four groups in the Top 20, with five delegates qualifying from each group.
The two leading delegates for Beauty with a Purpose will be joined in the Top 20 by the ladies who will top the Multimedia, Head-to-Head, and Top Model competitions, regardless of continental grouping. The judges will choose who will fill up the remaining slots in the Top 20 to make sure there will be five representatives from each regional group.
The next phase of the competition will be the Top 12 semifinal round, where the two Beauty with a Purpose winners, regardless of grouping, will be joined by the two leading delegates from each of the four regional groups. The two public voting leaders will complete the roster.
For the final round, only six ladies will remain–the top-performing delegates from each of the four regional groups, the Beauty with a Purpose winner, and the public voting leader. From the Top 6, only three will garner placements. Two runners-up will be proclaimed alongside the Miss World winner.
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Last year, Thailand posted its first-ever victory courtesy of Opal Suchata Chuangsri, who was third runner-up at the 2024 Miss Universe pageant held in Mexico.
The Philippines’ Krishna Gravidez was the second top performer from Asia and Oceania at last year’s Miss World pageant, and finished in the Top 8. She was subsequently crowned as Miss World Asia.
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Asia Rose Simpson, an 18-year-old youth advocate from Quezon City, is representing the Philippines at the 2026 Miss World pageant. She previously competed at the Miss Teen USA pageant where she was voted as Miss Congeniality.
One hundred and eleven delegates from different countries and territories around the world are competing in this year’s pageant. The Philippines last won the crown in 2013 when Megan Young topped the contest held in Indonesia. /ra