Miss World 2026: Fatima Koné eliminated in the first round, Ivory Coast out of the Top 40

Closely followed in Côte d’Ivoire since the beginning of the journey, Fatima Koné had nevertheless made numerous notable appearances over the weeks. Her journey was particularly marked by the challenges of Top Model and Head-to-Head, as well as by a national costume inspired by the hornbill, which became one of the striking images of her participation.

But at the time of the first cut of the final, her name did not appear on the Top 40 list. The official Miss World results then show that five African representatives reached the global Top 20: Kenya, Senegal, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Côte d’Ivoire therefore did not pass this stage this year.

This elimination ends a highly discussed campaign surrounding Miss Côte d’Ivoire 2025. Before her departure for Vietnam, Fatima Koné was already at the center of international pageant news, notably following the decisions made regarding the Ivorian representation at Miss Universe. Her status as a new figure in Ivorian beauty pageants had heightened expectations for her participation in Miss World.

Joheirry Mola crowned Miss World 2026

The crown ultimately went to Joheirry Mola, representing the Dominican Republic. The 24-year-old woman was crowned at the end of the final, ahead of the Spaniard Elisabeth Reynés, first runner-up, and the Malaysian Taanusiya Chetty, second runner-up.

For the Dominican Republic, this victory is historic: Joheirry Mola becomes the second woman from the country to win Miss World, forty-four years after Mariasela Álvarez in 1982.

On the Ivorian side, Fatima Koné’s journey thus ends without qualification in the Top 40, but with significant international exposure. Her participation also brought renewed attention to Ivorian cultural richness, notably through the hornbill costume worn during the competition.

The young woman remains one of the most followed personalities on the Ivorian beauty scene. Her journey comes a year after the debates that had already surrounded her participation in major international competitions, proof of the continued strong interest of the Ivorian public in beauty pageants.