AYUTTHAYA: Nigeria’s Oma Esele has emerged as the winner of Miss Continental World 2026, bringing international recognition to the country after defeating contestants from several nations at the pageant’s grand finale in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
The 28-year-old Lagos-based model, medical laboratory scientist and entrepreneur secured the crown at the international competition, while India’s Shreeya Panda finished as first runner-up.
Esele’s victory was further highlighted by two special awards she received ahead of the final, including the Queen of Africa title, awarded to the highest-placed African contestant, and the Best National Costume award.
Her achievement adds another international pageant success to Nigeria’s growing presence in global beauty competitions.
Esele represented Nigeria at the competition after winning EliteGlam Pageant Nigeria 2025, earning her the opportunity to compete against contestants from different parts of the world.
Her campaign gained further momentum in September 2026 when she won the World Premiere Award after topping the global fan vote conducted through Eventista’s 1Vote platform.
She finished ahead of India’s Monica Konjengbam and Thailand’s Pornpaya Rianju in the voting contest.
The award also came with a media package featuring official social media promotion and an Associated Press News press release, providing additional publicity for her pageant journey.
Her eventual victory at Miss Continental World 2026 marks the culmination of a campaign that combined national representation, international voting and competition on the global stage.
Nigeria also recorded a notable result in the male division of the competition, with its representative, Unwana Sambo Essien, finishing third runner-up at the Mister Continental World 2026 finals.
Essien also received the King of Kings title and the Best National Attire award in the male category.
The achievements by both Nigerian representatives gave the country multiple honours at the event, with Esele securing the overall women’s crown and Essien earning recognition in the men’s competition.
Esele’s success comes amid continued Nigerian participation in major international beauty competitions.
One of the country’s recent notable performances was Chidimma Adetshina’s first runner-up finish at Miss Universe 2024, which attracted considerable attention to Nigeria’s representation on the international pageant stage.
Esele’s Miss Continental World 2026 victory adds another achievement to that record, highlighting the participation of Nigerian women in international modelling and beauty contests.
Beyond modelling, her professional background as a medical laboratory scientist and entrepreneur gives her career a combination of scientific training, business interests and public representation.
She is expected to return to Nigeria in the coming days following the competition in Thailand.
Her victory is likely to draw attention from pageant enthusiasts and the Nigerian fashion and entertainment industries as she returns home with the international crown.
For Nigeria, the result represents a significant moment in its participation at Miss Continental World 2026, with Esele’s title and special awards placing her at the centre of the country’s latest international pageant success.
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