As 111 contestants compete for the crown in Nha Trang, Lebanon, Morocco, and Somalia arrive with causes spanning digital safety, youth empowerment, and education.
All eyes are on Nha Trang, Vietnam, today, Saturday, September 5, as the final night of the Miss World 2026 competition takes place, bringing together 111 contestants from around the world. Each is vying to succeed the reigning Miss World, Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand.
In the 73rd edition of the global competition, Arab representation is prominent. Three young women are carrying their countries’ flags in Vietnam: Perla Harb representing Lebanon, Sherihan Sharqi representing Morocco, and Fozia Abdullahi Grad representing Somalia.
However, participation in Miss World is no longer limited to appearances on stage. Through the “Beauty With a Purpose” initiative, the projects and causes contestants support have become an essential part of their identities in the competition. This year, the three Arab participants bring stories ranging from women’s empowerment and digital safety to supporting youth and advocating for displaced children’s right to education.
Miss Lebanon Perla Harb is representing her country in the global competition after being crowned Miss Lebanon in 2025.
Harb holds a degree in banking and finance and has ventured into modeling, with women’s empowerment at the core of her concerns. She aspires to establish an organization that supports women who have faced violence or discrimination or have been deprived of opportunities.
She is also bringing a cause related to the digital world to the competition, raising awareness about online safety and addressing forms of cyber harassment and violence that women and the most vulnerable groups may face.
Before beginning her journey to Vietnam, Harb revealed in a previous interview with “Annahar” that her ambitions in the competition are high. She aims to reach the top positions while also recognizing the value of the experience itself. She said, “If my path leads me to qualify and reach the top ranks, that will be my path. If it doesn’t happen, it will still be a very beautiful experience.”
She also spoke about the extent of the preparations and responsibility that come with representing Lebanon, from training on “the walk” and speech to choosing attire that reflects her identity. She asserted that she wants to live up to that responsibility and represent Lebanon in the best light abroad.
Harb enters tonight’s competition following a notable Lebanese presence in recent years, particularly with Yasmina Zeitoun reaching the position of first runner-up at Miss World in 2024.
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From Morocco, Chirihan Chergui brings a different story that combines technology, entrepreneurship, and social work.
Chergui is an IT engineer and entrepreneur working in artificial intelligence. After moving to France to continue her studies and gain professional experience, she founded her own technology project.
But her story at Miss World goes beyond her professional journey. Through her initiative, “Doors Open,” she works to help young people access career opportunities and build financial independence, in an effort to open the job market to groups who may find it difficult to access.
In Vietnam, she is also bringing a part of Moroccan identity, from traditional clothing and crafts to music and heritage, in an attempt to present an image that blends modern Morocco with its cultural roots.
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Somalia is represented by Foziya Abdullahi Garad, a student with a different dream: to become an airline pilot.
Garad is interested in empowering youth, while her social cause involves advocating for displaced children’s right to access education.
She sees her participation as a platform to convey the voices of young people in Somalia to a broader audience, in a country where conflict and displacement have made access to education a challenge for many children.
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The competition tonight will proceed in stages, starting with the selection of the top 40 contestants, followed by the top 20 and top 12, leading to six contestants in the decisive stage before the announcement of the new Miss World.
Among 111 contestants from around the globe, Perla Harb, Chirihan Chergui, and Foziya Abdullahi Garad enter the competition carrying three Arab flags and three different stories.
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