Pakistan Makes Historic Debut at Miss World 2026 After 75 Years
Lahore, Pakistan — Pakistan has officially made its historic debut at the prestigious Miss World 2026 competition, marking the country’s first participation in the international pageant’s 75-year history.
This milestone fulfills a vision that began 25 years ago when Miss Pakistan World was founded in Toronto, Canada, by Sonia Ahmed in 2002. From the beginning, the organization’s goal was to send an official Pakistani representative to Miss World. However, the pageant was not eligible because the national competition was not being held on Pakistani soil.
That changed in 2020, when the Miss Pakistan pageant was relocated to Lahore, Pakistan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the first national titleholder Areej Chaudhary was crowned in Pakistan, and since then the annual pageant has continued to be held in the historic city of Lahore.
The historic title of Miss World Pakistan 2026 was awarded to Anniqa Jamal Iqbal, a 24-year-old Master’s student specializing in Accounting & Auditing and one of Pakistan’s most accomplished international beauty queens.
The crowning ceremony took place at Lahore’s iconic Faletti’s Hotel, where Anniqa was crowned by Dr. Shafaq Akhtar, Miss Pakistan Universal 2022 and Attaullah Gujjar, Mr. Pakistan World.
No stranger to international competition, Anniqa has previously represented Pakistan at Miss Earth, Miss Global, Miss Cosmo, Miss Eco International, and Miss Aura International. She also won four titles at the Freedom of the World competition in Kosovo. Her extensive international experience has established her as one of Pakistan’s most successful pageant representatives.
Beyond the stage, Anniqa is deeply committed to humanitarian work. Her Beauty with a Purpose project focuses on supporting thalassemia patients in Pakistan. She actively volunteers with the Sundas Foundation, Noor Foundation, and the Renal Care Foundation in Lahore, helping improve the lives of patients who require ongoing medical treatment.
Reflecting on this historic achievement, Miss Pakistan World President Sonia Ahmed said:
“Twenty-five years ago, when I founded Miss Pakistan World in Toronto, Canada, our dream was always to see Pakistan represented at Miss World. Because the pageant was not being held on Pakistani soil, we were not eligible to participate. Bringing the pageant to Lahore in 2020 changed our future. Today, after 25 years of dedication, perseverance, and hard work, we have achieved what once seemed impossible. This is a historic moment not only for our organization but for Pakistan.”
Founded in 2002, the Miss Pakistan World Organization was established with one clear objective—to one day send an official Pakistani representative to the Miss World competition. The organization’s name itself reflected that ambition, and after 25 years of unwavering commitment, that dream has finally become a reality.
Pakistan’s debut at Miss World 2026, 75 years after the international pageant was established, marks a defining moment in the nation’s pageant history. The achievement is the culmination of 25 years of dedication by Sonia Ahmed, the founder of the pageant industry for Pakistan and the Miss Pakistan World Organization, bringing Pakistan to one of the world’s most prestigious beauty competitions through a nationally organized pageant held on Pakistani soil.
