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Sierra Leone’s representative at the Miss World 2026 pageant, Mariyam Lorba Konneh, is set to compete in the grand finale in Nha Trang, Vietnam, as she carries the country’s culture and advocacy message onto the international stage.
Konneh was officially appointed by Miss Sierra Leone Limited to represent Sierra Leone during the 75th anniversary edition of the global pageant and has been in Vietnam since early August.
The 22-year-old media personality and entrepreneur has used her participation to draw attention to issues affecting young people in Sierra Leone, particularly drug abuse, addiction and poverty.
Konneh’s advocacy is rooted in a personal experience with Sierra Leone’s growing drug crisis.
She has revealed that poverty and substance abuse contributed to the death of one of her best friends, an experience that inspired her to become an advocate for young people affected by addiction.
Her campaign under the Miss World “Beauty with a Purpose” initiative is titled “The Fight Against Drugs, Addiction, Poverty.”
Through the campaign, Konneh seeks to address some of the social and economic conditions associated with drug abuse rather than focusing solely on addiction itself.
Her “Healthy Body, Healthy Mind and Healthy Community Programme” is designed to empower women and young people while providing support to people affected by addiction.
According to Konneh, the initiative has already helped rehabilitate nearly 300 women affected by addiction.
Beyond her social advocacy, Konneh has also used the Miss World platform to showcase Sierra Leone’s cultural identity and heritage.
She participated in the Top Model and World Designer categories, where she presented an outfit that she described as a striking combination of Sierra Leonean culture and heritage.
Her participation has provided an opportunity to introduce elements of Sierra Leonean identity to an international audience while competing alongside representatives from around the world.
Konneh is a final-year Banking and Finance student at the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) and is the founder of Mariyam’s Ways, a platform focused on youth empowerment and women’s wellbeing.
As she prepares for the grand finale, she has expressed appreciation to Sierra Leoneans for the support she has received throughout her journey.
“Whatever the result is, I will remain proud and grateful for this opportunity,” Konneh said.
The Miss World 2026 grand finale is scheduled for September 5 in Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Regardless of the final result, Konneh’s participation has allowed Sierra Leone to present its culture while drawing international attention to issues surrounding drug addiction, poverty, youth empowerment and women’s wellbeing.
Her journey therefore extends beyond the pageant itself, with her advocacy placing social issues affecting vulnerable communities at the heart of her representation of Sierra Leone.
