Mallorca has a new star on the international scene. On Saturday, Elisabeth Reynés took second place at the Miss World 2026 pageant, held in Nha Trang, Vietnam, becoming the most advanced Spanish representative in this year’s final.
The contestant from Mallorca came in second, surpassed only by 24-year-old Dominican Joheirry Mola, who was crowned the winner. The representative from Malaysia, Taanusiya Chetty, completed the podium in a final that brought together contestants from 111 countries and confirmed the growing international reach of a competition that, far from being limited to beauty, also aims to showcase the participants’ messages, goals, and social commitment.
For Reynés, the result marks a personal milestone and one of Spain’s most outstanding performances in recent Miss World history. For Mallorca, it also represents the international exposure of one of its representatives in one of the world’s most important beauty pageant showcases.
The path to the final began weeks earlier. During the preliminary rounds held from the second week of August, the presenter from Mallorca secured one of the spots for the 40 semifinalists after winning the runway challenge for the Americas and Caribbean region, where she competed against representatives from countries such as Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Venezuela.
At the final gala, broadcast live to numerous countries, the competition gradually reduced the number of contestants: first to 20, then to 12, and finally to six. This final group included representatives from Malaysia, South Africa, Vietnam, Eritrea, and Spain, as well as the eventual winner.
The result saw Elisabeth Reynés crowned European champion, while Joheirry Mola claimed victory. The Dominican contestant was also the only one of the 111 participants to speak a few words in Spanish during the ceremony.
The final, which took place over five hours in a public square in Nha Trang, was interrupted by several delays caused by brief showers. In response to the final question, Mola advocated for teaching English in schools as a way to expand children’s opportunities to learn and communicate with the rest of the world. The coronation ceremony was hosted by Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand, winner of the 2025 pageant held in India. A few minutes later, organizers also confirmed the location of the next pageant: Tanzania will host the 74th Miss World in September 2027.
The evolution of competition toward a more social dimension
Reynés’s success comes at a time when major international beauty pageants have evolved to adapt to a different audience and different social expectations. Miss World organizes its competition into four major regions—Asia and Oceania, the Americas and the Caribbean, Europe, and Africa—and uses this system to ensure a balanced representation of the different geographical areas in the 40-candidate semifinal list.
Unlike Miss Universe, this British-origin pageant does not include a swimsuit round. In recent years, it has also expanded the time dedicated to contestants to present projects, advocate for social causes, and express their opinions on current events. This change reflects a broader transformation in the beauty pageant industry: appearance remains part of the spectacle, but it is no longer the only asset highlighted on stage. Communication, personality, purpose, and public influence are increasingly becoming part of the competition.
In this new context, Elisabeth Reynés’s second-place finish takes on a significance that goes beyond the final ranking. The contestant from Mallorca has not only put Spain in the spotlight at Miss World 2026; she has also brought the name of Mallorca to an international audience and has demonstrated that the appeal of these beauty pageants increasingly lies in a realm where public presence and the ability to communicate carry as much weight as the crown itself. For Spain, the result sets a new record. For Mallorca, it represents an opportunity for international visibility. And for Elisabeth Reynés, it marks the beginning of a new chapter after coming so close to one of the most prestigious crowns in the world in Vietnam.
Congratulations from Margalida Prohens
Regional Government President Marga Prohens on Sunday congratulated Mallorcan Elisabeth Reynés after she achieved second place in the Miss World 2026 pageant. “You have achieved an unprecedented milestone by finishing second in Miss World 2026 and becoming the first Spanish woman to achieve this position in the pageant’s 75-year history, representing Spain and the Balearic Islands,” Prohens emphasized in a message on social media. The regional head of government highlighted that Elisabeth Reynés “undoubtedly” still has “a long and great journey ahead of her.”