Nana Konadu Nhyiraba Obeng: Meet the 20-Year-Old UPSA Student Making History as Ghana’s Most Beautiful 2026 Queen

Biography/Profile of Nana Konadu Nhyiraba Obeng: Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) 2026 Queen

Nana Konadu Nhyiraba Obeng, a 20-year-old student at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), has won Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) 2026, becoming the first representative of the Bono Region to win the national cultural pageant in its 20-year history.

Nana Konadu was crowned on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at the National Theatre in Accra after competing against five other finalists in the anniversary edition of the television competition, organised by TV3. Her victory marks a historic milestone for the Bono Region and brings national attention to her advocacy for cultural identity and heritage.

The 20-year-old is from Dormaa Ahenkro in the Bono Region. She succeeds the 2025 winner, Etornam of the Volta Region, as the new queen of Ghana’s Most Beautiful.

Educational Background

Nana Konadu is a former student of Wesley Girls’ High School, popularly known as Wey Gey Hey. She is currently a Level 400 student pursuing Communication and Media Studies at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

Her achievement has attracted recognition from her university. On October 19, 2026, UPSA publicly congratulated her on its official Facebook page, describing her victory as a source of pride and recognising her talent, dedication, and perseverance.

Her success highlights her participation in national cultural representation while pursuing her university education.

A Journey Defined by Culture and Storytelling

Throughout the GMB 2026 competition, Nana Konadu distinguished herself through cultural presentations, public speaking, modelling and storytelling. Her performances explored history, identity, food, tourism and the cultural connections that unite African communities.

One of her notable achievements came during Fashion Night, when she received the Best Model of the Night award.

She subsequently won the Star Performer of the Week award during the competition’s One Africa Night, where she represented Côte d’Ivoire.

Her presentation explored the country’s cultural heritage, cocoa industry, tourism, and football identity. She also highlighted the historical story of Queen Abla Pokou and the shared Akan connections between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

The performance earned her recognition for combining cultural education with stage presentation.

Championing Bono Identity and Cultural Pride

One of the most significant moments in Konadu’s GMB journey was her opening performance at the grand finale, during which she addressed the ridicule sometimes directed at the Bono accent.

She challenged the practice of mocking people because of their language, pronunciation, or regional identity, arguing that an individual’s accent should never be used to judge their intelligence or worth.

Her presentation encouraged young people, particularly those who may feel embarrassed about their accents, to speak confidently and embrace their cultural heritage.

She also highlighted the history, achievements, language and identity of the Bono people, drawing attention to the region’s contributions to Ghanaian society.

The performance placed cultural respect and regional identity at the centre of her final presentation and formed an important part of her historic victory.

Rising Phoenix: Her Social-Impact Initiative

Beyond the pageant, Nana Konadu has a project known as Rising Phoenix, which, according to a profile published by 3News, aims to create opportunities for single mothers and their children.

The initiative focuses on skills development, vocational training and mentorship, with the stated objective of helping beneficiaries build more sustainable futures.

Although the initiative forms part of her reported social-impact interests, publicly available reports have not provided sufficient independently verified information about its registration, funding, implementation or number of beneficiaries.

Career Interests and Aspirations

Nana Konadu has expressed business interests, influencing, television presenting and hosting, according to her published profile.

Her studies in Communication and Media Studies are relevant to these interests, while her participation in Ghana’s Most Beautiful has given her a national platform for cultural storytelling, public speaking and community-focused advocacy.

Her future professional activities and any formal appointments following her GMB victory remain to be documented.

Historic Victory and Prizes

At the grand finale, Konadu emerged as the overall winner ahead of the five other finalists representing different regions of Ghana.

She received a cash prize of GH¢200,000 and an MG ZS Deluxe Edition vehicle sponsored by Mac Ghana, alongside other benefits reported by the competition’s media coverage.

The other finalists included Sessinam of the Volta Region, who placed first runner-up, and Ampomaa of the Ashanti Region, who finished second runner-up.

Her victory ended the Bono Region’s long wait for its first Ghana’s Most Beautiful crown since the competition began in 2007.

A New Chapter for the Bono Region

Nana Konadu Nhyiraba Obeng’s victory is a milestone in the history of Ghana’s Most Beautiful and a significant moment for the Bono Region.

Through her performances, she brought attention to the importance of preserving Ghanaian cultural heritage and respecting the languages and identities of different communities.

Her journey also demonstrates how a national cultural platform can provide opportunities for young people to combine education, public engagement and advocacy.

As the newly crowned GMB 2026 queen, Konadu begins a new chapter in which her public profile is expected to extend beyond the competition. The extent of her future cultural, professional, and social-impact work will become clearer as she undertakes activities following her victory.

SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh