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A new chapter in international pageantry is unfolding as Eritrea prepares to make its very first appearance at the 75th Miss World Festival in Vietnam. Representing the East African nation as its inaugural titleholder is Snit Habteab—a neuroscientist, educator, and passionate advocate for disability rights.
As the 185th nation to join the Miss World legacy in its 75-year history, Eritrea is stepping onto the global stage with a representative who embodies the pageant’s “Beauty with a Purpose” ethos to her core.
Beauty, Brains, and Purpose
Born and raised in the Eritrean capital of Asmara, Habteab brings an impressive academic and professional resume to the competition. She earned her degree in Neuroscience from George Mason University in Virginia, USA, where she simultaneously worked as a Montessori preschool teacher.
For Habteab, science and childcare are deeply intertwined. She operates with the philosophy that advanced scientific knowledge must translate into meaningful, on-the-ground support for children with developmental disabilities.
A Deeply Personal Advocacy
Habteab’s platform is rooted in two deeply personal causes:
- Inclusive Education: Her greatest inspiration is her younger sister, who was born with Down syndrome. Watching her sister navigate a challenging education system ignited Habteab’s drive to champion inclusive education. She is a vocal advocate for fully integrating children with special needs into mainstream classrooms, ensuring they receive the resources and social environment they deserve.
- Breast Cancer Awareness: After tragically losing her mother to breast cancer, Habteab stepped up to serve as a Breast Cancer Awareness Ambassador, working to educate and support women facing the disease.
A True Renaissance Woman
Beyond her academic and philanthropic pursuits, Eritrea’s new queen maintains an incredibly active and creative lifestyle. Whether she is serving aces on the tennis court, playing basketball, or practicing kickboxing, she is a woman in constant motion.
When she isn’t doing high-intensity sports, Habteab expresses her creativity through salsa dancing and painting. She is also multilingual, fluently speaking Tigrinya, English, and Italian.
Putting Eritrea on the Map
Habteab’s debut brings well-deserved global attention to Eritrea, one of the world’s youngest nations. Gaining its independence in 1993, the country sits along a dramatic stretch of the Red Sea coastline and is home to a rich, harmonious blend of nine recognized ethnic groups.
The spotlight on Habteab will naturally draw eyes to her hometown of Asmara. Often referred to as “Africa’s Little Rome,” the capital is a UNESCO World Heritage Site globally celebrated for its remarkably preserved modernist and Art Deco architecture.
The Road to Vietnam
All eyes will be on Habteab as she carries the Eritrean flag into the 75th anniversary edition of Miss World. The month-long festival and competition will take place in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5, 2026.
With her background in neuroscience, her dedication to vulnerable children, and the historic weight of being her country’s first representative, Snit Habteab is already proving that she is far more than just a contestant—she is a trailblazer.
