Riona Krishnan Dighe has been crowned Miss Teen Universe Asia 2026 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, marking the first time a Singaporean delegate has clinched the regional title, asiaone.com reported on October 28.
Defeating Over Thirty Delegates in Phnom Penh
The 18-year-old secured the crown on Oct. 25 after competing against more than 30 delegates from across the continent. Advancing steadily through the preliminary cuts, she moved from the initial Top 20 to the Top 14 before claiming the overall title. Alongside the main crown, she captured the Miss Popular Choice award, which was determined by online public voting and established her as the clear audience favourite among her cohort.
Reflecting on the milestone, Riona noted the scale of her achievement in an Instagram post cited by the coverage. I came to Cambodia as a girl from one of Asia's smallest nations and I leave with the honour of representing an entire continent,
she wrote. She also expressed deep gratitude to supporters back home, emphasizing that she felt immensely grateful to be living her dream.
Heritage Showcase and Longstanding Charity Work
For the pageant’s talent segment, Riona performed a traditional Peranakan dance to introduce Singaporean heritage to an international audience. Her official competition platform centred on children’s education and access, building upon charitable endeavours she has pursued since she was 11 years old. This commitment to community impact extends beyond her pageantry pursuits.
Her modelling portfolio includes runway appearances at New York, London, Milan, and Paris Fashion Weeks. Previously, she held the title of Miss Teen London 2024, placed as first runner-up at Miss Teen Universe UK 2024, and was crowned Miss Teen Universe Singapore 2026. She also partnered with local brand Origin Teahouse to launch a limited-edition drink raising funds for Project Pink during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Academic Pursuits in Artificial Intelligence
Away from the runway and pageant stage, Riona maintains a rigorous academic profile. She spent two years conducting research on applying natural language processing to Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness framework, guided by a mentor from Cornell University. The project involved travelling to Bhutan to share her findings with local schools and educating children on practical technological applications.
Her research paper was subsequently published in the International Journal of High School Research and presented directly to the King of Bhutan. Having completed her A-levels at Cheltenham Ladies’ College in the United Kingdom, she is currently reading Business at University College London’s Global Business School of Health.
