SASHES & TIARAS......Miss Grand International 2026 Finals: Top 11 Evening Gowns - My Picks, from #11 to Number One!

 Beaded Beauties - Miss Grand International 2026 Finals - Evening Gown Top 10 (L to R: Miss Grand Ecuador, Miss Grand Tanzania, Miss Grand Venezuela, Miss Grand Netherlands)

The Finals of the 14th Annual Miss Grand International occurred several days ago on October 10th, with the top crown going to Miss Grand Tanzania, Jihan Dimack. Jihan is 30 years old and a pageant veteran, having won Miss Universe Tanzania and competed in the Miss Universe pageant back in 2016. Jihan was born in Lebanon, is of Tanzanian-Lebanese heritage, and stands 5' 9". 

Miss Grand International 2026 Jihan Dimack

Top 5 - Miss Grand International 2026

But let's get to final gowns. The Top 11 Semi-Finalists got to model their final gowns at the competition, and here are my picks from #11 to #1 Best-in-Gown of the night, beginning with...

11. Miss Grand Côte d'Ivoire Marlene Kany Kouassi - Marlene wore this burnt orange colored gown with a very leg-revealing front, heavily covered in beads and crystals, featuring matching shoulder pad details and lots of fringe. I loved the color, but it was a little too "Love Boat Performer" even for Miss Grand International (!) and THOSE platform heels were TOO MUCH! I wish she would have re-worn the gown she modeled during the Preliminaries: THAT was a stunner!

10. Miss Grand Cuba Alyanni T. Gomez - Alyanni wore this nude illusion-based gown with blue crystals and appliqué placed strategically throughout her figure. I get that she was going "All Out Sexy" here, and she looked like some gown sea creature, but again, I loved her Preliminaries Competition gown more.

9. Miss Grand Mexico Pety Juarez - I loved the chartreuse color here, which was striking against her skin and hair. The gown had a nice fitted shape with an off-the-shoulder neckline and fringe...of course. VERY Sofia Vergara at the Golden Globes!

8. Miss Grand Vietnam Emoura Pham - At #8 is this golden gown (with silver crystals) worn by Miss Grand Vietnam. The design had an off-the-shoulder neckline, a fitted dress shape in nude illusion/organza, and a ballgown overskirt. The gown silhouette was a kind of "throwback" to pageant gowns from, say, 5-10 years ago, which I appreciated. I also appreciated the immense sequin/applique workmanship that went into this: The overskirt alone, with all those jeweled crystals glued (or hand-sewn onto it), must have taken a year!

7. Miss Grand Guatemala Ximena Carillo - Another golden-colored gown was worn by Miss Grand Guatemala. This was also an off-the-shoulder style with, yes, yet another overskirt in the back. This overskirt, however, has a cascade drape and features "striped"-like golden binding. The nude/golden gown had emerald jewels throughout and stiffened detail curving around her upper arms and back. The overall design was a bit over-the-top, but for Miss Grand International, this is the "norm", and I have to say, it did look great on her.

6. Miss Grand Puerto Rico Vicky Carbonell - I loved this gown for its vibrant colors, the sexy shape, the sequin embellishment, and how "Miss Grand Puerto Rico" worked the stage with that fire-like back cape and her Diana Ross hair. She was a standout for sure!

5. Miss Grand Thailand Patthama Jitsawat - This crystal gown could have easily been a fabulous National Costume on top of being quite an incredible gown. It featured "bust horns" and chandelier-like details, as well as an unusual "shawl" (if you could call it that!) that she held for stage drama.

4. Miss Grand Netherlands Beau Megan Goos - What an entrance! I loved this gown for several reasons: It was over the top for sure, but boy oh boy, that back wrap-around cape/train was EVERYTHING! And the baby blue/nude jeweled gown was beautiful! This gave me fabulous memories of those good ol' days of the "Miss Venezuela" pageant from the 80s and 90s.

3. Miss Grand Venezuela Lady Di Mosquera - Speaking of "Miss Venezuela": Here is Lady Di Mosquera and her gown. She wore this crystal gown in a nude illusion base with a plunging neckline and a VERY GRAND attached feathered cape; probably one of the best feathered capes of the pageant! She could have done without the ruby jewels at the waist and necklace, but other than that: Fabulosa!

2. Miss Grand Ecuador Shyare Andrade - Shyare wore my SECOND FAVORITE GOWN of the night in this classic and elegant golden design. This was impactful, expensive-looking, and could have easily been out of the Paris Haute Couture Runways. She looked every bit A QUEEN!

And finally, my Number One Choice...

1. Miss Grand Tanzania Jihan Dimack - Jihan, the eventual winner of the pageant, wore my top favorite gown in this golden sequined design with a silver crystal bust and a dramatic multi-tiered ruffled cape. It was stage-impacting, and she definitely commanded everyone to look at her. I also liked her hair styling and the golden drop earrings. When she came out, I was like, "Just give her the crown NOW!"