Jihan leads Miss Grand Power vote

DAR ES SALAAM: TANZANIA’S Jihan Dimack is leading a dramatic three-way showdown for the Country’s Power of the Year title at Miss Grand International 2026, putting the country within touching distance of an automatic place in the pageant’s coveted Top 20.

Jihan was leading the fast-track contest with 42 per cent of the vote yesterday, ahead of Ecuador’s Shyare Andrade, who had 40 per cent, while Vietnam’s Emoura Phạm was trailing with 18 per cent.

The stakes are high. Only two of the three finalists will advance to the final showdown for the Country’s Power of the Year title, with the eventual winner earning an automatic place in the Top 20 of the Miss Grand International 2026 grand finale.

The final round of voting closes on today, with the winner of the Country’s Power of the Year contest set to be revealed live on stage on Saturday in Bangkok, Thailand.

Fashion expert, Steven Mwasota, has urged Tanzanians to maintain the voting momentum, stressing that the current campaign is about securing Jihan’s progression rather than immediately crowning her Miss Grand International.

“We are not voting so that we wake up tomorrow and find that Jihan has already won Miss Grand International. It does not work that way. What we are doing now is mobilising Tanzanians to vote and push her from the group of about 80 contestants into the Top 20,” Mwasota said.

He described the Country’s Power of the Year campaign as an opportunity for Tanzanians to demonstrate their unity and patriotism on an international stage.

“If Tanzania wins Country’s Power of the Year, we will have shown that we are a united nation, a country with solidarity, love and patriotism. That is what we are fighting for at the moment,” he said.

Jihan also leads Miss Popular

Jihan’s momentum extends beyond the Country’s Power of the Year contest.

She is also leading the Miss Popular vote, another fast-track category that offers a route into the Top 10, according to the latest voting figures.

Jihan currently commands 35 per cent, followed by Vietnam’s Emoura Phạm with 18 per cent, while Chile’s Ignacia Michelson has nine per cent.

The double lead puts Tanzania in a strong position as the competition enters its decisive final days.

Mwasota said winning the voting categories would give Jihan additional momentum in her quest for the main crown.

“We are currently leading in Miss Popular, and if we succeed there as well, we will be pushing Jihan even closer to winning the Miss Grand International crown,” he said