Television actress Samira Khan Mahi was crowned Miss Universe Bangladesh 2026 at a ceremony in Dhaka on Saturday. Last year’s winner, Tangia Zaman Methila, crowned her. Here is what is known about the new titleholder.
Who is Samira Khan Mahi?
Samira Khan Mahi is a Bangladeshi model and television actress. Her real name is Farzana Yasmin Koli, and Wikipedia’s pageant table lists her district as Lakshmipur.
Age and education
Organisers and the major news outlets have not published her date of birth. Some online biography sites claim she was born on 7 February 1997, but these are unverified. Her formal education has also not been detailed in any report we reviewed, so confirm both points with her team before publishing.
Career: from modelling to television
Mahi began in modelling and was first runner-up at the Rang RTV 20 20 Colours Model Search in 2014. Until 2020 she endorsed popular brands, took part in fashion shows and acted in a few television projects. She used the pandemic to study acting more seriously.
By early 2022, she had appeared in more than 30 fictions in six months, becoming a popular face on the small screen. She also drew praise for the Bongo original series “Girls’ Squad” and worked with directors including Mostofa Kamal Raz. Her later credits include Faram-Gate (2024) and the TV movie Premik Jamai (2025).
The road to the crown
This year Mahi was selected directly for Miss Universe, without a competition. The announcement came at the International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB) in Dhaka’s Purbachal area. She learned of her selection only six days earlier, leaving very little time to prepare.
After the win, she wrote on Facebook, “This is not just my moment; it’s a moment for Bangladesh.” She said her parents had encouraged her to go and conquer the world. She flew out to Puerto Rico on 8 November.
What comes next
Mahi will represent Bangladesh at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in Puerto Rico, with activities beginning on 11 November. Bangla-language reports give 24 November as the date of the final.
She follows a strong recent record. Methila reached the top 30 in 2025 among contestants from 122 countries, Bangladesh’s first placement in the pageant, and topped the People’s Choice category. Fans will now watch to see whether Mahi can match that.
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