Psychology student Misbah Arshad has added another title to her growing pageant career after winning the Miss Universe Pakistan 2026 crown. She becomes the fourth Pakistani woman to earn the opportunity to represent the country at the global Miss Universe competition.
According to Dawn, Arshad received the crown and sash at a ceremony in the Philippines, succeeding Roma Riaz.
Arshad’s profile extends beyond pageantry. She studied psychology at Germany’s University of Hagen. The official Miss International portal also listed her as a psychology major when she represented Pakistan at the 2023 competition, aged 26 at the time. Earlier reports said she lived in Munich while pursuing her bachelor’s degree in psychology.
Her academic background has remained an important part of her public profile, setting her apart from the conventional image of a pageant contestant.
Arshad’s international pageant journey gained momentum in 2023 when she won the Miss Pakistan World title. According to the Miss Pakistan World organisation, she then represented Pakistan at Miss Aura International 2023 and Miss International 2023.
Her participation in Miss International marked a milestone. She became the first Pakistani delegate to compete at the Japanese pageant. The official contestant listing also confirmed her psychology background.
In 2024, Arshad represented Pakistan at Miss Supranational 2024 in Poland. The official Miss Supranational channel introduced her as the Pakistani delegate, while Polish broadcaster Polsat also listed her among that year’s contestants.
Her Miss Universe Pakistan victory came down to the final question-and-answer round. Filipino singer and actor Bailey May asked whether she would find it harder to answer her 10-year-old self or her 80-year-old self.
Arshad chose her younger self. She said her 10-year-old self would want to know how her life eventually turned out. She would tell her younger self that life is a beautiful cycle that should not simply be endured, but embraced and enjoyed.
With the national crown secured, Arshad will now prepare to represent Pakistan at the 75th Miss Universe competition in Puerto Rico. Her academic background, international pageant experience and exposure to global competitions give her a broad platform as she heads towards the Miss Universe stage.
