In a classroom in the Distrito Nacional in Santo Domingo, she taught Spanish and social studies to elementary school students. On the stage in Nha Trang, Vietnam, Joheirry Mola was crowned Miss World 2026, bringing the crown back to the Dominican Republic 44 years after the country’s first victory, achieved by Mariasela Álvarez in 1982. This is the story of a teacher who made her classroom and a global pageant one and the same cause.
Joheirry Mola, a schoolteacher from the National District
Joheirry Mola Domínguez is 24 years old and comes from the Distrito Nacional, the institutional heart of Santo Domingo, which she had already represented in the national pageant that led her to Miss World. A graduate of the Ibero-American University (Unibe) with a degree in business administration, she teaches Spanish and social studies to elementary school students. She is also a correspondent for the show “Ventana a Quisqueya” on Univision New York, where she covers news about the Dominican diaspora in the United States. This dual life, balancing the classroom and television studios, became the foundation of her candidacy for Miss World—a pageant she viewed less as a beauty contest and more as a platform to discuss education.
Joheirry Mola's Victory in Nha Trang, Step by Step
On September 5, during the finals of the 73rd Miss World pageant, Joheirry Mola won the title, beating out Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés, who was named first runner-up. Her journey took her through several elimination rounds, from the Top 40 to the Top 6, after winning the Top Model challenge for the Americas and Caribbean region. During the decisive question-and-answer round, she was the only contestant in the Top 6 to answer entirely in Spanish—a choice she described as a way to champion her language rather than a mere matter of protocol, in a pageant where English dominates the proceedings.
44 Years After Mariasela Álvarez: A Victory That Unites the Dominican Republic
This victory makes her the second Dominican woman to be crowned Miss World, following Mariasela Álvarez in 1982. The 44-year gap between the two crownings gives this victory special significance in Dominican Republic, where the news was hailed as a national event and widely discussed far beyond the pages devoted to beauty pageants. President Luis Abinader publicly praised the achievement: “Today, you made history by winning the Miss World crown for the Dominican Republic, 44 years after our first victory.” ” Vice President Raquel Peña, First Lady Raquel Arbaje, and several ministers also extended their congratulations to the new queen, praising in particular the message of education and service she embodies.
Mariasela Álvarez herself did not hide her emotion at her compatriot’s victory. “Forty-four years later… finally!” she exclaimed, before adding that she had cried “as if she were my own daughter” and confiding: “I didn’t want to die without seeing this.” A statement that, more than any number, captures the symbolic significance of this long-awaited moment for an entire country that hadn’t held this crown since 1982.
Joheirry Mola: A Crown Dedicated to Education
What sets Joheirry Mola apart—beyond her championship title—is the project she has been leading for several years. She is involved with Voices of Tomorrow, an initiative that teaches English to children from vulnerable communities in Greater Santo Domingo, based on the belief that mastering a language opens doors that few other things can open as quickly. “Language should not be a privilege, but a bridge connecting our childhood to the world,” she explained after her victory. Another of her quotes sums up her approach to holding the title: “As a teacher, I’m happy to share my knowledge with my students, but I want them to know that life is about having a purpose and serving others.”
Joheirry Mola’s family her mother is from La Vega and her father from the National District initially viewed her participation in beauty pageants with caution, but eventually came to fully support her, urging her above all to stay true to her values. A year after winning the national title of Miss World Dominican Republic in 2025, she now wears her global crown even in her classroom, where her students will soon be reunited with her.
The question now is what Joheirry Mola will do with this unprecedented exposure caught between the international spotlight of a competition followed around the world and the children of Santo Domingo, for whom she says she wants to continue fighting.
Joheirry Mola Domínguez is a 24-year-old Dominican schoolteacher and communications professional from the Distrito Nacional in Santo Domingo. She teaches Spanish and social studies and was crowned Miss World 2026 on September 5, 2026.
This makes Joheirry Mola the second woman from the Dominican Republic to win Miss World, 44 years after the country’s first victory, which was achieved by Mariasela Álvarez in 1982.
The final of the 73rd Miss World pageant was held on September 5, 2026, in Nha Trang, Vietnam. Joheirry Mola defeated Elisabeth Reynés of Spain, who was named first runner-up.
