Riona Krishnan Dighe, Miss Teen Universe Asia 2026. Source: AsiaOne.com
At 18, Riona Krishnan Dighe has brought a landmark title home to Singapore: Miss Teen Universe Asia 2026. She won the crown in Phnom Penh on 25 October, competing against more than 30 delegates, and also received the Miss Popular Choice award through online voting.
The pageant is only one part of her story. Riona is an international fashion model, a University College London student, an AI researcher and a young advocate for children’s education and wellbeing.
A childhood dream, carried onto the international stage
Riona’s interest in pageants began when she watched Miss Universe with her mother and grandmother. Before representing Singapore, she won Miss Teen London 2024 and placed first runner-up at Miss Teen Universe UK.
Her modelling career began with a casting opportunity for New York Fashion Week. It led to work across New York, London, Milan and Paris, as well as appearances in publications including Grazia Slovenia and L’Officiel Monaco.
For Riona, the crown is more than recognition: it is a platform to encourage others and support causes she cares about.
Growing up between Singapore and the UK
Riona moved to the UK at 11 to attend Cheltenham Ladies’ College. The move brought independence, but also homesickness. Visits from her grandmother—with Singaporean meals—and treats from her parents, including pineapple tarts and kueh lapis, helped her stay close to home.
She completed her A-levels at Cheltenham while balancing an increasingly busy modelling schedule. When international travel took her away from school, tutors helped her keep up. She is now studying business at University College London’s Global Business School for Health.
Riona credits her parents and grandmother with shaping her discipline, determination and commitment to education.
Using AI to explore happiness
Visits to Bhutan introduced Riona to the country’s Gross National Happiness philosophy. It inspired two years of research into how natural language processing (NLP)—a branch of artificial intelligence—could help study happiness and wellbeing.
Her research appeared in the International Journal of High School Research in 2024. She later travelled to Bhutan to present her findings to students, schools and the Centre for Bhutan and GNH Studies; the work was subsequently presented to the King of Bhutan.
The project also made her consider whose experiences AI can represent. If a system relies mainly on English-language social media, for example, it may miss the perspectives of rural communities.
Riona sees AI as a way to improve productivity, not a replacement for independent thought, creativity or human judgement. She has also spoken about the influence of social-media filters and AI-generated images on beauty standards, and challenges the idea that young women in fashion cannot also be academically driven.
Making room for service and advocacy
Riona’s involvement in charitable work began in childhood. From the age of 11, she took part in initiatives supporting children’s education, including literacy and numeracy programmes in rural India and education projects in Bhutan.
She has also supported children’s palliative care through fundraising. A collaboration with fashion label Alice + Olivia reportedly raised £12,000 for the UK charity Together for Short Lives.
Closer to home, she partnered with Singapore’s Origin Teahouse in October 2026 on a limited-edition drink, Riri’s Pink Crown. Ten per cent of sales went to the Breast Cancer Foundation as part of Project Pink.
Representing Singapore—and keeping life in perspective
Riona represented Singapore after winning Miss Teen Universe Singapore 2026, organised by AO Ventures Pte Ltd. The organisation is led by National Director Adeline Hokulani and prepares contestants for international pageants.
Away from the spotlight, Riona enjoys desserts, Taylor Swift and time with friends. She also wants space to enjoy being a teenager while continuing her studies and a demanding schedule.
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t.”
With the Asian title, she hopes to expand her work in children’s education, philanthropy and advocacy. Fashion, technology and research remain interests she wants to explore alongside her studies.
Her win is a proud moment for Singapore. The story behind it is of a young woman still learning, questioning and finding ways to use the opportunities she has earned. At 18, her story is only beginning.
Sources
Image credit: Riona Krishnan Dighe, Miss Teen Universe Asia 2026. Source: AsiaOne.com.