Tanzanians turned out in large numbers to welcome home beauty queen Jihan Dimack after she made history by becoming the first African woman to win the Miss Grand International crown, with cheering fans, traditional Maasai dancers, celebrities and a specially designed safari-themed vehicle featuring among the celebrations.
The beauty queen arrived at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, October 17, 2026, following her triumph at the international pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, a week earlier. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the airport to celebrate her achievement, turning her return into a major moment of national pride.
Jihan travelled alongside Miss Grand International president and founder Nawat Itsaragrisil, who also received a warm reception from the Tanzanian fans.
The arrival marked the beginning of celebrations planned in Dar es Salaam to honour the beauty queen, whose victory placed Tanzania and Africa in the spotlight of international pageantry.
Ahead of her arrival, Jihan had shared her excitement about returning home after the competition, where she received widespread support from Tanzanians who followed her progress and participated in online voting campaigns.
“TANZANIAAAAAAAA, I’m coming home,” she wrote in a message shared on Instagram, expressing her excitement about returning to her country.
The homecoming featured displays of Tanzanian culture, with Maasai dancers performing their traditional jumping routines as part of the welcome for Jihan and Nawat. Videos shared by Tanzanian media showed the cultural performances among the highlights of the airport reception, as supporters gathered to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned international beauty queen.
Bongo Flava star Rayvanny was also among the prominent personalities who turned up to congratulate Jihan. His appearance added to the excitement surrounding the event, with the singer celebrating her achievement as a moment that demonstrated the power of unity among Tanzanians.
The celebrations also brought together beauty queens and other public figures, including Miss Universe Tanzania titleholders. Businesswoman and social media influencer Jennifer Jovin, popularly known as Niffer, was among those who welcomed Jihan after spearheading a major campaign to mobilise support for her during the competition.
The support had gathered momentum during the pageant finals, when Niffer organised a watch party at Superdome Hall in Masaki, Dar es Salaam, bringing fans together to follow Jihan’s bid for the international title.
Safari-themed vehicle draws attention
One of the striking features of the homecoming was a specially designed vehicle prepared for Jihan’s reception. Rather than being decorated with flowers or plants, the vehicle was built around a safari and wildlife theme intended to showcase Tanzania’s tourism potential.
The custom-built structure featured prominent images of a leopard, a lion and a zebra, drawing attention to the country’s wildlife heritage. The design was part of the arrangements organised to celebrate Jihan’s achievement while promoting Tanzania as a destination known for its wildlife and safari experiences.
Niffer explained that the vehicle’s design had been carefully considered, with the organisers opting for animal imagery to give it a clear connection to Tanzania’s natural attractions. However, the unusual structure also attracted mixed reactions online, with some social media users joking about its appearance and apparent stability.
The vehicle added another distinctive element to a reception that combined entertainment, cultural performances and national pride, as organisers sought to make Jihan’s return memorable.
Jihan makes history for Africa
Jihan secured the Miss Grand International 2026 crown on October 10 during the final held in Bangkok, Thailand. Her victory made her the first Tanzanian and the first African woman to win the title since the competition was established in 2013.
She prevailed over contestants from around the world, with Ecuador’s Shyare Andrade finishing as first runner-up, the Netherlands’ Beau Megan Goos taking second runner-up, Guatemala’s Ximena Carrillo placing third runner-up and Vietnam’s Emoura Phạm finishing fourth runner-up.
During the final question-and-answer round, Jihan addressed the qualities of an empowered woman, emphasising kindness, compassion and selflessness. She cited her mother as an important role model, using the answer to reinforce the values she associated with womanhood and empowerment.
The win marked another milestone in a pageant career spanning more than a decade. Jihan previously represented Tanzania at Miss Universe after winning Miss Universe Tanzania in 2016, and she returned to the international pageant stage in 2026 after securing the Miss Grand Tanzania title.
