Mister Global 2026: Nigeria’s Bethel Mbamara finishes first runner-up

Nigerian model Bethel Mbamara finished first runner-up at Mister Global 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand, on Saturday, 10 October, the best result Nigeria has ever recorded at the international male pageant. The crown went to Dilhan Divrikli of Türkiye.

Mbamara climbed through every cut on the night, from the Top 20 after the swimwear round to the Top 10 after formal wear and speeches, then the Top 5 and the final three, QED.ng reported. The Philippines’ MJ Ordillano finished second runner-up, GMA News reported.

It is his second big finish in Thailand in just over a year. It also came on the same weekend that Nigeria’s Oma Osele won Miss Continental World in Ayutthaya, about an hour’s drive north of Bangkok.

Who is Bethel Mbamara?

Bethel Damian Chidera Mbamara is a Nigerian fashion model and law graduate who was born and raised in Port Harcourt and is from Anambra State. When ThisDay profiled him in May 2025 he was 24, a final-year law student at Rivers State University and the fourth of six children.

Off the runway he runs the Rising Kings Initiative, a mentoring programme for young boys that offers workshops and advocacy on growing into responsible men. When GistMatrix checked his Instagram page, @bethel_damian_, at about 11pm WAT on Saturday, 10 October, it had about 37,000 followers and still described him as “Mr Int’l Africa’25”.

How did Bethel Mbamara get to Mister Global?

He got there by replacing another delegate. The Misters of Nigeria Organization appointed him Mr Global Nigeria 2026 on Sunday, 6 September, after its first choice, Kelechi Amonu Jones, withdrew for personal and academic reasons. The organisation’s president, Emmanuel Somto, called him “one of the strongest representatives Nigeria has ever sent to an international competition”.

His record explains the choice:

• May 2025: crowned Mister International Nigeria 2025 at the Misters of Nigeria contest at MUSON Centre, Lagos, ThisDay reported.
• Thursday, 25 September 2025: finishes third runner-up at Mister International 2025 in Nonthaburi, Thailand, and is named Mister International Africa.
• Sunday, 6 September 2026: appointed Mr Global Nigeria 2026.
• Early October 2026: competes in Bangkok, including a closed-door interview and a fan vote on the pageant’s 1Vote platform.
• Saturday, 10 October 2026: first runner-up at Mister Global 2026.

“I’m not here to repeat history, I’m here to expand it,” he told ThisDay before his first international contest.

How has Nigeria done at Mister Global before?

Nigeria’s previous best at Mister Global was second runner-up, by Favour Ogbuokiri in 2024. The country first entered in 2019, and its earlier best finish was a Top 17 placing by Emmanuel Somto in 2021, the same man who now runs Misters of Nigeria. Mbamara’s first runner-up finish beats both.

Nigerian men have been rising across the male pageant circuit. Samuel Nwajagu won Mister International in December 2024, the first African to do so, as ThisDay noted.

What happens next

As of 11pm WAT on Saturday, 10 October, neither Mbamara nor Misters of Nigeria had announced his homecoming date or what his role as first runner-up involves. GistMatrix will update this story when they do.

FAQ

Who won Mister Global 2026?
Dilhan Divrikli of Türkiye won Mister Global 2026 in Bangkok on Saturday, 10 October 2026. Nigeria’s Bethel Mbamara was first runner-up and the Philippines’ MJ Ordillano second runner-up.

Is this Nigeria’s best result at Mister Global?
Yes. Nigeria’s previous best was second runner-up, by Favour Ogbuokiri in 2024.

What else has Bethel Mbamara won?
He was Mister International Nigeria 2025 and finished third runner-up at Mister International 2025, where he was named Mister International Africa.

Send Bethel your congratulations in the comments.

Read next: Miss Continental World 2026: Nigeria’s Oma Osele takes first crown