South Africa’s Romanda Hombir has left the 73rd Miss World with a continental title and one of the strongest finishes for her country in years.
The 27-year-old clinical audiologist from Mpumalanga was crowned Miss World Africa 2026 after advancing to the Top 6 at the grand finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Her journey started with a major win in the African Head-to-Head Challenge, which earned her an automatic spot in the Top 40. She then continued through the competition to reach the Top 6, South Africa’s highest Miss World placement since Rolene Strauss won the global crown in 2014.
But Hombir’s story extends well beyond pageantry.
Through the Caring With Purpose Foundation, she works to improve healthcare access, literacy, nutrition, mobile screenings and skills development in underserved communities. She has also used her platform to advocate for women dealing with endometriosis, PCOS and fibroids.
And for the big stage, she looked every bit the continental queen.
Her golden national costume featured sheer panels, sculptural feather-like details and a dramatic silhouette, finished with her sash and crystal crown.
Hombir may not have taken the global crown home, but she leaves Vietnam with something significant: a continental title, a historic placement and a bigger platform for the work she cares about.
Meanwhile, Eritrea’s Snit Habteab Tewoldemedhin also made history by reaching the Top 6 in the country’s debut Miss World appearance.
