Perla Harb Heads to Miss World 2026 with Lebanon in Her Heart

Wearing a gold cedar necklace and carrying the Lebanese flag, Miss Lebanon 2025 Perla Harb has officially embarked on her journey to Vietnam, where she’s representing Lebanon at Miss World 2026. But beyond the glamour and competition, Harb is arriving with a powerful message centred on authenticity, digital safety and female empowerment.

Harb shared glimpses of her departure with her followers, capturing emotional farewell moments with her family and proudly holding the Lebanese flag.

“Lebanon, I’m ready. Off to Miss World to proudly represent my country and begin a journey I’ll cherish forever.” she wrote, expressing her excitement ahead of the competition.

For her airport appearance, Harb opted for an elegant all-white ensemble, reflecting the purity and optimism behind her message. The look was completed with a delicate gold necklace featuring the iconic Lebanese cedar, adding a subtle yet meaningful national touch to her sophisticated travel style.

A Message Beyond Beauty: Choosing Authenticity Over Perfection

Harb’s preparations for Miss World have gone far beyond beauty, styling and stage presence. At the heart of her participation is a social message challenging the unrealistic standards often promoted on social media.

As part of the Miss World Beauty With a Purpose initiative, Harb appeared in a campaign video addressing the pressure to achieve what she described as “fake perfection.” In the video, she navigates a digital world before placing the crown on her head, highlighting the importance of remembering that self-worth cannot be measured through likes, comparisons or online approval.

Harb’s advocacy at Miss World focuses on digital safety and women’s empowerment in the age of social media, addressing issues including cyberbullying, privacy violations and the exposure of personal information online.

Ahead of her departure, she participated in an awareness session, focusing on digital safety and the growing risks associated with cyberbullying, doxxing and privacy breaches.\

A New Chapter for Miss World in Vietnam

Vietnam is hosting Miss World for the first time, welcoming contestants from around the globe for the landmark 2026 edition. The 75th anniversary edition will culminate in the grand finale in Ho Chi Minh City on September 5, 2026, when the new Miss World will be crowned, succeeding Thailand’s Opal Suchata Chuangsri.

Since arriving in Vietnam, Harb has already begun sharing glimpses of her experience alongside contestants from around the world. Among her recent appearances was a warm moment with Miss Turkey 2026 Sıla Saray Demir, as the two were pictured together with fellow contestants during their stay.

For the occasion, Harb embraced an effortless summer aesthetic in a cream-white cropped top paired with a long skirt, while Demir opted for an elegant white dress, perfectly complementing the tropical surroundings.

Harb’s journey to Miss World has been supported by an intensive preparation programme covering everything from runway training and public speaking to styling and wardrobe development.

She has worked closely with image consultant George Shammoun to coordinate her competition looks and ensure that her choices reflect both her personality and Lebanese identity. Her national costume was designed by Jean-Louis Sabaji, with Harb describing the creation as an unconventional design that required extensive preparation and was conceived to present a distinctive interpretation of Lebanon’s spirit and heritage.

Perla has also received a warm message of support from Lebanese singer Joseph Attieh. Taking to Instagram Stories, Attieh shared a photo of Harb at the airport, where she appeared holding the Lebanese flag alongside her luggage, and wished her success on her journey to Miss World 2026.

“Carrying Lebanon in your heart. All the best! Go make us proud!” Attieh Wrote.

Harb, in turn, reshared his message on her own account, responding with emotional and heart emojis.

The exchange quickly caught the attention of social media users, particularly given the pair’s previous interactions that have sparked public interest in their relationship rumors.

Harb had previously attended Attieh’s concert, where the two shared a playful moment in front of the audience. Attieh jokingly told her that he had not seen her in a long time, before adding with a laugh, “About two hours,” prompting laughter from the crowd. The lighthearted exchange subsequently circulated widely across social media.

During the concert, Harb was also seen enjoying several of Attieh’s songs, including Malika Ala Arshha, while footage showed her interacting with the singer’s mother, who was also in attendance.

While their latest exchange once again drew attention online, the moment ultimately came as Harb began an important new chapter, with Attieh publicly cheering her on as she takes Lebanon to the Miss World stage.

Crowned Miss Lebanon in October 2025, succeeding Nada Koussa, Harb now carries Lebanon’s hopes onto one of the world’s most recognized beauty stages.