Mariyam Lorba Konneh has officially been appointed to represent Sierra Leone at the 73rd edition of the Miss World Festival, scheduled to culminate in the grand finale in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on September 5, 2026.
The announcement was made by Miss Sierra Leone Limited in a statement issued on Monday, July 20, 2026, following a unanimous resolution of its Board.
According to the statement, the decision became necessary after it was determined that the 2026 national Miss Sierra Leone competition could not be concluded in time to select and adequately prepare a winner for this year’s international festival. Following consultations with the Miss World Organisation, the Board resolved that Sierra Leone should not forfeit its place on the global stage.
Miss Sierra Leone Limited said the appointment ensures the country’s continued participation in one of the world’s most prestigious beauty and humanitarian platforms while preserving Sierra Leone’s visibility, national pride and representation at the international event.
Mariyam Lorba Konneh, who emerged as the First Runner-Up in the 2025 Miss Sierra Leone Competition, was selected as Sierra Leone’s official delegate based on what the Board described as her intelligence, grace, leadership qualities and unwavering commitment to community development.
The organisation noted that her dedication to representing the aspirations of young Sierra Leonean women makes her an ideal ambassador to carry the country’s flag at the international competition.
This year’s Miss World Festival also marks the 75th anniversary of the Miss World franchise, a milestone expected to bring together contestants from about 120 countries for weeks of cultural exchange, charitable initiatives, leadership activities and competitive events before the grand finale in Vietnam.
Miss Sierra Leone Limited called on Sierra Leoneans at home and in the diaspora to rally behind Mariyam as she prepares for the global contest, expressing confidence that she will showcase the country’s beauty, talent, culture and resilience with pride and distinction.
The organisation extended its best wishes to the newly appointed representative and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring Sierra Leone maintains its longstanding presence at the Miss World Festival.