Mkini emerged victorious at the competition, which brought together contestants and prominent figures from the beauty pageant and entertainment industries to celebrate African beauty, culture and diversity.
The event was judged by a panel comprising Dr Michael Pinder, Dr Stella Jerry, Emma Schneider, Kevok Kholobikian, Tamunosoye Karibi-George and Tana Whyte, while Augustina Augustine served as the host.
Speaking after her victory, Mkini described her emergence as the fulfilment of a long-held dream and the beginning of a greater responsibility to inspire young women and contribute to community development.
She explained that her journey into modelling initially provided an avenue for self-expression and helped build her confidence. However, she later discovered that beauty pageantry offered a broader platform through which women could amplify their voices and make meaningful contributions to society.
“Today, becoming Miss Africa International 2026 is a dream come true, but for me, it is also the beginning of a bigger responsibility. I want to use this opportunity to inspire other young women to believe in themselves and never give up on their dreams,” she said.
As part of her reign, the Tanzanian beauty queen plans to champion women’s empowerment, education, skills development and entrepreneurship.
She also intends to expand her Heritage to Future project, an initiative designed to encourage young people to embrace their cultural heritage, nurture their talents and transform their skills into meaningful opportunities.
Mkini said she hoped to collaborate with communities in Tanzania and other African countries to promote cultural preservation and youth development.
Speaking about her vision for Africa, she highlighted the continent’s rich cultural heritage, history, talent and natural beauty, noting that she wanted to help showcase its strengths and potential to the rest of the world, beyond the challenges it faces.
