Before the Top Model competition night, 111 Miss World 2026 contestants went through many activities such as Head Chef Beauty, Sport Challenge, Head to Head Challenge and Talent. The results of the sub-competitions helped determine the first beauties to win tickets to the Top 40.
At Head Chef Beauty - a cooking challenge that first appeared within the framework of Miss World, contestants were divided into 10 teams and built a healthy menu from readily available ingredients.
Vietnamese representative Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc and members of team 2 won after two rounds of competition. Her group made a menu including tropical fruit salad; salmon served with brown rice and shrimp crackers; and a type of juice.
The result did not bring a wildcard but helped Bao Ngoc win the first victory in her journey to participate in the 73rd Miss World pageant.
The first contestant to officially win a ticket to the Top 40 was Suil Anyelina Pagán of Puerto Rico. She won the Sport Challenge after overcoming opponents in many sports events. The Australian representative ranked second, while the Northern Irish beauty ranked third.
Head to Head Challenge identified four more contestants in the Top 40 by region. Romanda Hombir of South Africa won the African region; Asia Rose Simpson of the Philippines led the Asia-Oceania region; Georgia-Lee Gill from Trinidad and Tobago won the Americas-Caribes region; Julia Kühnle of Germany won in Europe.
These four beauties will continue to compete to find the overall winner of the Head to Head Challenge. According to the announced rules, the head of the competition will advance straight to the Top 20 of the final.
Bao Ngoc passed the first round to participate in the Top 20 Head to Head Challenge, including 5 contestants from each region. In the first presentation round, she talked about climate change, the role of young people and activities under the Gen Zero project.
At the regional round, when asked about the new generation's reception of progress without losing identity, the Vietnamese representative said that culture needs to be preserved in life instead of just being preserved as artifacts. She also cited the experiences of international contestants when learning about Vietnamese culture.
Although not winning a wildcard, the Top 20 achievement shows Bao Ngoc's presentation and critical ability to face social issues.
In the Talent competition, Grace Richardson - representing England - won with the performance of the song "Over the Rainbow", thereby becoming the sixth contestant to be named in the Top 40.
Annaëlle Ibo of Guadeloupe ranked second with the performance "La Vie en Rose". Asia Rose Simpson of the Philippines ranked third with a modern dance performance telling about the journey to overcome feelings of being lost and regain faith. Previously, the representative of the Philippines won a Top 40 ticket thanks to a regional Head to Head Challenge victory.
Up to now, Bao Ngoc has won with her teammates at Head Chef Beauty, entered Top 60 Top Model, Top 23 Talent and Top 20 Head to Head Challenge.
After Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest season 17, the contestants continue to participate in closed interviews, compete at Top Model and practice for Dances of the World.
The cultural performance night is expected to take place on September 2nd at April 2nd Square, Nha Trang. Each representative will introduce the national identity through music, dance and costumes.
The Miss World 2026 final will take place on the evening of September 5th at Square 2. 4. Incumbent Miss World Opal Suchata Chuangsri will present the crown to her successor, closing nearly a month of competition for 111 contestants in Vietnam.
