BANGKOK, Thailand—Tanzania’s Jihan Dimack has made history after being crowned Miss Grand International 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, becoming the first African woman to win the international beauty pageant since its establishment.
The 30-year-old beauty queen claimed the title on Saturday, October 10, marking a landmark achievement for Tanzania and Africa’s representation on the global pageant stage.
However, behind the historic crown is a journey spanning more than a decade, characterised by international exposure, professional growth and a return to beauty pageantry after years of experience in modelling.
Born into a Tanzanian-Lebanese family, Dimack first attracted national attention in 2014 when she finished as second runner-up at Miss Tanzania.
In 2016, she won Miss Universe Tanzania, earning the opportunity to represent her country at the Miss Universe competition held in the Philippines in January 2017.
She subsequently continued building her modelling career and gained professional experience across different countries before returning to the national pageant scene in 2026.
Her comeback culminated in August when she won Miss Grand Tanzania, representing Mwanza and securing her ticket to the international competition in Thailand.
At the Miss Grand International final, Dimack distinguished herself not only through her performance on stage but also through her message on kindness, equality and human dignity.
During the question-and-answer round, she highlighted a kind heart as an important quality of an empowered woman, pointing to her mother as her personal example.
She also emphasised the power of love in bringing people together, arguing that differences in religion and place of origin should not prevent people from respecting one another or enjoying equal rights.
Beyond the pageant stage, Dimack has championed peace, tolerance and respect for human dignity through the competition’s campaign against war and violence.
Her professional journey has included modelling, sales and live commerce, with experience shaped by living in different countries and engaging with diverse cultures.
Her victory now places Tanzania in the history books of Miss Grand International, while opening a new chapter for African representation in a competition where no African contestant had previously won the crown.
