The Bono Region finally has its queen. Nana Konadu was crowned winner of Ghana's Most Beautiful 2026 at the grand finale of the pageant's 20th-anniversary edition on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the National Theatre in Accra, according to reports by 3News and YEN.com.gh.
Her victory makes her the first contestant from the Bono Region to win the crown in the show's 20-year history, YEN.com.gh reports. She takes the title of GMB@20 Legacy Queen.
According to 3News and YEN.com.gh, the final placings and prizes were:
Lamiley, who had collected the most weekly awards during the season, finished fifth, showing that strong performances in the weekly shows do not always translate into the final result.
According to a profile by 3News, the new queen's full name is Nana Konadu Nhyiraba Obeng. She is 20 years old and comes from Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region.
She is a former student of Wesley Girls' High School and is currently a Level 400 Communication and Media Studies student at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
During the season, she won Best Model of the Night at Fashion Night and Star Performer on One Africa Night, 3News reports. She sometimes describes herself on stage as "the beast", a nod to the boldness she brings to her performances.
In her grand finale opener, Nana Konadu pushed back against mockery of the Bono accent, arguing that the way someone speaks should never be used to judge their intelligence or worth, according to 3News. The message struck a chord with many viewers and supporters from her region.
Nana Konadu's advocacy project, Rising Phoenix, aims to support single mothers and their children through skills training, vocational programmes and mentorship, with the goal of helping them build more sustainable futures, 3News reports. As queen, she is expected to develop the project over the coming year.
The finale was hosted by Anita Akua Akuffo and Cookie Tee, with Janet Sunkwa-Mills and Nana Hemaa Adwoa Awindor on the judging panel, according to 3News. The theme was "GMB@20 — Celebrating 20 Years of Culture, Grace and Legacy". Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie was among the dignitaries in attendance.
Ghana's Most Beautiful, produced by TV3, brings together contestants representing Ghana's regions, with each week built around a theme that celebrates the country's culture. Regional pride is a big part of the show, and winners are often celebrated in their home regions as ambassadors.
Bono's first win ends a long wait for the region and adds it to the list of regions that have produced a GMB queen. YEN.com.gh notes that several regions are still waiting for their first crown.
Nana Konadu succeeds Isabella Etornam Gagblezu of the Volta Region, who won in 2025 and recently commissioned an ICT laboratory at a basic school in the North Tongu District as part of her own project. The new queen will now begin her reign with a focus on her Rising Phoenix project and her role as a cultural ambassador.
Earlier reports said the winner of this year's competition would also have the chance to represent Ghana at the Miss Earth pageant, giving Nana Konadu a possible international stage in the months ahead.
