Sierra Leone’s Mariyam Konneh Named Among Africa’s Top 6 in Miss World’s ‘Beauty With a Purpose’ Competition

Sierra Leone’s Mariyam Lorba Konneh has made the Top 6 in Africa. Her project was selected in this year’s Beauty with a Purpose competition at Miss World.

The 22-year-old also made the overall Top 24 worldwide. It’s a milestone in her run at the 75th Anniversary Edition of Miss World, currently underway in Vietnam.

Who is Mariyam Konneh?

Mariyam Lorba Konneh at the Gala Dinner during the Miss World 2026 events.

Konneh is Miss Sierra Leone 2026 and Miss World Sierra Leone 2026. She previously held the title of AYV Miss University Sierra Leone 2022.

She was born in Freetown, with roots in Pujehun District and strong ties to the Northern Region. Together, they make her a blend of Sierra Leone’s South, North, East and West.

In addition to pageantry, she is a final-year Banking and Finance student at IPAM, University of Sierra Leone. She is also a television presenter, entrepreneur, and the Founder and CEO of Mariyam’s Ways Limited and the Mariyam’s Ways Foundation.

Her work and influence have earned her recognition among the 50 Most Influential Women in Sierra Leone.

What Is Her ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ Project?

Mariyam Lorba Konneh in professional attire during the pageant activities.

 Konneh’s Beauty With a Purpose project is titled “The Fight Against Drugs, Addiction, Poverty.”

The initiative focuses on the underlying social and economic conditions she believes are closely linked to drug abuse and addiction; conditions she says are contributing to deaths, extreme poverty and the loss of a generation of Sierra Leonean youth.

Through her ‘Healthy Body, Healthy Mind and Healthy Community’ Programme, Konneh seeks to empower girls, women and vulnerable young people while promoting healthier communities and greater awareness around addiction and its consequences.

Mariyam Lorba Konneh posing inside the venue.

As part of the competition, Mariyam took to the Miss World Head-to-Head Challenge stage to present her project and speak about an issue she says is very important to her.

Meanwhile, she also took part in closed-door interviews with Miss World judges, offering them a closer look at her personal journey, her personality and the purpose behind her advocacy.

Beyond the competition stages, Konneh participated in charity work in communities and schools across Vietnam, where the contest is being held.

She has also continued to showcase Sierra Leonean culture to an international audience through her fashion choices, blending Krio-inspired prints and traditional influences with contemporary design.</span>

When and Where Does the Competition Conclude?</span>

The Miss World 2026 grand finale is scheduled to broadcast live from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on 5 September.

Konneh stands among six African finalists in the Beauty with a Purpose category, alongside representatives from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe

Mariyam Lorba Konneh showcasing traditional styling at the competition.

For Konneh, however, the Miss World journey has always been about more than the crown.

“Beauty is not simply about appearance,” she has said. “It is about using influence, opportunity and visibility to create meaningful change.”

Whatever the final outcome in Vietnam, Konneh’s run has already placed Sierra Leone’s story on a global stage; carried by a young woman using her platform to confront drug addiction, poverty and the need for stronger, healthier communities back home.

Sierra Leone to the world.