Miss Trinidad and Tobago World Georgia-Lee Gill has secured a place in the 2026 Miss World Top 40 after winning the Americas and Caribbean title in the competition’s Head to Head Challenge.

The 24-year-old was named the continental winner on August 24 following the second round of the challenge at the Khanh Hoa Children’s Palace in Vietnam.

Gill was among five delegates representing the Americas and Caribbean who advanced to the second round.

She competed against Miss Bahamas, Miss Martinique, Miss Bolivia and Miss United States of America.

The finalists were asked: “If you had the attention of every young person in the Americas and the Caribbean for just one minute, what is the message you believe they most need to hear today?”

Dressed in a red two-piece outfit, Gill spoke openly about her own struggles with self-esteem and confidence before encouraging young people to believe in themselves.

“I stand before you here as a young woman who struggled with self-esteem and confidence,” Gill said.

She told the audience that she had often questioned whether she was “smart enough” or “worthy enough” and had been afraid to share her opinions because of the fear of criticism and judgement.

Gill urged young people to approach life’s challenges with patience, faith, love and self-belief.

“You are worth it. You are capable and you will be successful in this life,” she said.

She connected her message to her Beauty with a Purpose work, which was inspired by her experience caring for her grandmother, who lived with dementia.

“If my grandmother was here, she would be so unbelievably proud that I’m able to overcome my stage fright and speak to you all here today,” Gill said.

She encouraged young people to treat themselves with “kindness and compassion” and reminded them that they can overcome obstacles and succeed.

The Head to Head Challenge began with all 111 Miss World delegates making personal presentations about themselves and their Beauty with a Purpose projects on August 22.

Gill’s victory makes her the second Caribbean delegate to secure a place in the 2026 Miss World Top 40, following Miss Puerto Rico’s victory in the Sport Challenge.

She has also advanced to the Top 60 of the Miss World Top Model competition, where she attracted attention for her appearance in a white bridal gown created by a Vietnamese designer during the Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest.

Gill will now compete in the next stage of the Head to Head competition against the other continental winners — Miss South Africa Romanda Hombir, Miss Philippines Asia Rose Simpson and Miss Germany Julia Kühnle.

The winner of that round will earn an automatic place in the Miss World Top 20.

Strong Trinidad and Tobago record

Gill’s victory continues Trinidad and Tobago’s strong record in the Miss World Head to Head Challenge, which was introduced in 2017.

Miss Trinidad and Tobago Anna-Lise Nanton won the Americas and Caribbean title in 2025, while Tya Jané Ramey secured the country’s first victory in the challenge in 2019.

Trinidad and Tobago’s representatives have advanced to at least the second round of the challenge since its introduction.