Taanusiya Chetty Miss World 2026: Malaysia Finishes Third in Historic Result

Taanusiya Chetty Miss World 2026 became one of Malaysia’s biggest pageant stories after the Malaysian representative finished as second runner-up, or third overall, at the Miss World 2026 final in Nha Trang, Vietnam.

The result matches Malaysia’s best-ever placement at Miss World, previously achieved by Lina Teoh, who also finished third in 1998.

The 2026 crown went to Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic, while Spain’s Elisabeth Reynés Alabern was named first runner-up. Miss World confirmed that Taanusiya completed the top three after a competition involving 111 national representatives.

Malaysia Matches Its Best Miss World Result

Taanusiya’s third-place finish is significant because Malaysia had not matched its 1998 record for 28 years.

Previous notable Malaysian results include:

• Taanusiya Chetty: Second runner-up, 2026
• Lina Teoh: Third place, 1998
• Rahimah Orchient Yayah: Top 10, 1994
• Deborah Henry: Top 16, 2007

Her result puts her alongside Lina Teoh as one of Malaysia’s highest-placing contestants in Miss World history.

Who Is Taanusiya Chetty?

Taanusiya Chetty is a Malaysian secondary school English teacher, model and activist.

According to her official Miss World profile, she is fluent in Bahasa Melayu, English, Mandarin and Tamil. Her interests include badminton, running, martial arts, water sports, music and volunteer work.

During the Miss World competition, she also showcased elements of Malaysian culture, including tarian silat, helping introduce an international audience to the country’s cultural heritage.

Beauty With a Purpose Work Gains Recognition

Beyond her final ranking, Taanusiya also received recognition for her Beauty With a Purpose advocacy.

Her social initiatives have focused heavily on education, emotional development and support for underserved communities.

One of her major programmes, Be The Change Malaysia, supports children through education and mentorship. She has also worked on initiatives involving Orang Asli children, including Project Cahaya and education programmes for communities with limited access to learning opportunities.

Her advocacy became an important part of her Miss World journey and strengthened her profile beyond the pageant stage.

Who Won Miss World 2026?

Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic was crowned the 73rd Miss World during the final in Nha Trang.

The final top three were:

• Winner: Joheirry Mola Dominguez — Dominican Republic
• First Runner-Up: Elisabeth Reynés Alabern — Spain
• Second Runner-Up: Taanusiya Chetty — Malaysia

The competition formed part of Miss World’s 75th anniversary celebrations in Vietnam.

Key Facts

• Taanusiya Chetty represented Malaysia at Miss World 2026.
• She finished second runner-up, placing third overall.
• The result matches Malaysia’s best-ever Miss World performance.
• Lina Teoh previously finished third in 1998.
• Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic won Miss World 2026.
• Taanusiya is a teacher, model and activist focused on education and community projects.

What People Are Asking

What place did Taanusiya Chetty get at Miss World 2026?

She finished as second runner-up, making her third overall in the competition.

Did Taanusiya Chetty win Miss World 2026?

No. The winner was Joheirry Mola Dominguez of the Dominican Republic.

Is this Malaysia’s best Miss World result?

It matches Malaysia’s best-ever performance. Lina Teoh also finished third at Miss World in 1998.

What does Taanusiya Chetty do?

She is a secondary English school teacher, model and activist involved in education and community development programmes.