Georgian representative Ani Stepanishvili won the international beauty pageant Miss Asia Global 2026. Competing for the main crown, the 18-year-old model and professional dancer outperformed representatives from 37 countries.
The final took place on October 24 in the Malaysian city of Penang. Malaysia's representative Jing En was named first runner-up, the participant from Uzbekistan took second place, the representative of Thailand third, and Mexico fourth.
After her victory, Stepanishvili shared her emotions on Instagram, thanking those who supported her during the competition.
"I did it! I won! Today my heart is overflowing with joy, pride, and boundless gratitude. I once again represented Georgia before the whole world, and today I can proudly say: I am Miss Asia Global 2026! Every step, every difficulty, and every tear has today turned into this happiness," she wrote.
Miss Asia Global is a prestigious international beauty pageant held under the auspices of the company Pegasus Global. Although the project originally began in India, in recent years its permanent main venue has been Penang, Malaysia's tourist and cultural center.
The contest focuses on promoting talent, cultural identity, and female leadership in countries across Asia, Eurasia, Europe, and the Americas.
The jury evaluates contestants over 10 days based on several criteria. The program includes presentations of national costumes, evening gown appearances, demonstrations of creative abilities, and interaction with the jury.
Winning Miss Asia Global opens significant opportunities: over the course of the year, Ani Stepanishvili will take part in international fashion weeks, charity and tourism campaigns, and collaborate with leading global agencies.
Previous holders of the title include well-known media personalities such as Serbian athlete and blogger Sara Damnjanović (2019) and Kazakh model Asem Yesengeldiyeva (2018). For Georgia, this is the first victory at Miss Asia Global.