Tanzania has made history on the international beauty pageant stage after Jihan Dimack was crowned Miss Grand International 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, on 10 October, becoming the first African woman to win the title since the competition was established.
Dimack’s victory marks a major milestone for Tanzania and the wider African continent, bringing the crown to Africa for the first time in the pageant’s history. She succeeds the Philippines’ Emma Mary Tiglao, who completed her reign as Miss Grand International 2025 before passing the title to her successor.
The 30-year-old model, whose full name is Jihan Mohin Dimachk, competed against contestants from around the world, securing the top position in the 14th edition of the competition. Her achievement also highlights the growing visibility of African contestants in international beauty pageants.
Ecuador’s Shyare Andrade finished as first runner-up, followed by Beau Megan Goos of the Netherlands in second place. Guatemala’s Ximena Carrillo secured third runner-up, while Vietnam’s Emoura Pham completed the top five as fourth runner-up.
Dimack’s journey to the crown reflects years of experience in modelling and pageantry. She previously won Miss Universe Tanzania in 2016 and represented her country at Miss Universe, held in the Philippines in January 2017. She returned to national pageantry in 2026, winning Miss Grand Tanzania and earning the opportunity to compete internationally once again.
Of Tanzanian and Lebanese heritage, Dimack has lived in several countries, including Tanzania, Lebanon and Mozambique, and has worked in China in modelling, sales and live commerce. She has described her multicultural background as an important part of her identity and her desire to showcase Tanzania’s diversity and values to the world.
During the final question-and-answer round, Dimack emphasised kindness as an important quality of an empowered woman, citing her mother as an example of compassion and selflessness. Her response reflected the importance she places on empathy, service and leadership.
The competition also brought disappointment for the Philippines, whose representative, Angelica Lopez, failed to advance to the Top 10 finalists. However, Lopez received the Best in National Costume award, earning recognition for her presentation of Filipino culture on the international stage.
The final results featured contestants from Africa, South America, Europe, Central America and Southeast Asia, underscoring the competition’s international reach.
For Tanzania, Dimack’s win is a landmark achievement that places the country in the history of Miss Grand International. For Africa, it represents a breakthrough in a competition where no African contestant had previously claimed the main crown.
As she begins her reign, Dimack takes on the responsibility of representing the organisation’s message of peace and its advocacy against violence. Her victory provides an opportunity to bring further international attention to Tanzania while highlighting African talent, cultural diversity and women’s participation on the global stage. With Jihan Dimack’s historic victory, Tanzania has secured a place in international pageant history, and Africa celebrates its first Miss Grand International winner.
