Hundreds of Tanzanians packed Dar es Salaam’s airport on Saturday to welcome home Jihan Dimack, the first African woman to be crowned Miss Grand International.
Maasai dancers, music stars and fans in the thousands-strong celebration mood greeted the beauty queen, who arrived a week after her historic win in Bangkok. A safari-themed vehicle, decorated with a lion, a leopard and a zebra, carried the national pride on show.
Miss Grand International winner Jihan Dimack touched down in Dar es Salaam on Saturday, to a rousing reception from hundreds of supporters.
She landed at Julius Nyerere International Airport one week after her victory in Bangkok, Thailand. The crowd turned her return into a showpiece of national pride.
Her arrival opened a series of celebrations planned in Dar es Salaam. Her win has put Tanzania and Africa in the global pageant spotlight.
Before flying home, Jihan Dimack told her followers she could not wait to return. She had drawn strong backing from Tanzanians, who followed her progress and took part in online voting campaigns during the contest.
“TANZANIAAAAAAAA, I’m coming home,” she wrote on Instagram.
Culture took centre stage at the airport. Maasai dancers performed their traditional jumping routines to welcome her and Nawat Itsaragrisil.
Videos shared by Tanzanian media showed the performances as a highlight of the reception. Supporters crowded in to catch a glimpse of the newly crowned queen.
Safari-themed vehicle turns heads at homecoming
Among the most eye-catching features of Jihan Dimack’s reception was a specially designed vehicle. Organisers passed over the traditional flowers and plants and built it around a safari and wildlife theme.
The aim was to showcase Tanzania’s tourism potential.
The custom-built structure carried large images of a leopard, a lion and a zebra. Together, they highlighted the country’s wildlife heritage.
The vehicle was one of several arrangements made to mark Dimack’s victory. It also doubled as a promotion of Tanzania as a destination known for its wildlife and safaris.
Jihan makes history for Africa
Jihan Dimack secured the Miss Grand International 2026 crown on 10 October 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.
The win marked another milestone in a pageant career spanning more than a decade.
Dimack previously represented Tanzania at Miss Universe after winning Miss Universe Tanzania in 2016. She returned to the international stage in 2026 after securing the Miss Grand Tanzania title.
