The dream of a Miss Grand International three-peat is over, but Filipino pageant fans still have something to cheer about.
Tanzania's Jihan Dimack was crowned Miss Grand International 2026 on Saturday night, October 10, at the MGI Hall in Bangkok, Thailand. Philippine entertainment site PEP, citing Tanzanian newspaper The Citizen, reported that she is the first Tanzanian and first African to win the title.
She was crowned by outgoing queen Emma Tiglao of the Philippines.
The court
1st runner-up: Shyare Andrade (Ecuador)
2nd runner-up: Beau Megan Goos (Netherlands)
3rd runner-up: Ximena Carrillo (Guatemala)
4th runner-up: Emoura Pham (Vietnam)
The judges expanded the planned Top 10 into a Top 11 on the night.
How PH did
The Philippines' Angelica Lopez, from Palawan, advanced to the Top 25 but did not make the Top 11, ending the country's hopes for a third straight crown after CJ Opiaza (2024) and Emma Tiglao (2025). Opiaza took the 2024 title after the original winner resigned.
Lopez still left Bangkok with an award. She shared the Best National Costume title with other delegates for a look inspired by the mangkukulam, the witch figure of Philippine folklore. It was designed by Patrick Isorena, who also created costumes for Opiaza and Tiglao.
Emma's emotional goodbye
In her farewell speech, Tiglao thanked Filipinos for fighting for her, just as she fought for them until the end. She said she had been criticized and underestimated during her journey, and that the goal is to leave a legacy, not to please everyone. She called her reign her "grandest graduation" and said Miss Grand International was her last pageant.
A familiar face
The new queen has been to Manila before. Dimack competed at Miss Universe 2016, which was held at the Mall of Asia Arena in January 2017, when she was 20. Now 30, she answered the final question by saying that love is the strongest tool for building a more equal world.
Better luck next year, Philippines.
