Yemi Sekoni enters Top 10 with $25,000 prize and iHeartRadio podcast at stake

Yemi Sekoni has reached the Top 10 in the 2026 Top Host competition, a national contest that places the eventual winner in front of a microphone for a new media project. The competition is run in partnership with iHeartRadio.

The winner of the Top Host competition receives a $25,000 cash prize. They also secure a contract to host a six-episode podcast produced by iHeartRadio. The role includes an on-air appearance as a guest on the show On Air with Ryan Seacrest.

Sekoni is the owner and director of Donahue Models & Talent. She also serves as the founder and executive producer of Rhode Island Fashion Week. Her background includes work in modeling, acting representation, and event production across the state.

She holds a Master of Business Administration and works as a volunteer mentor through SCORE. She advises small business owners on startup and growth strategies. In November 2026, she assumes the role of Executive Director at the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Organization.

The scholarship organization supports young women through grants, leadership training, and community service programs. Sekoni said she is entering the role with a focus on empowering the next generation of leaders in Rhode Island.

Sekoni described the hosting opportunity as a natural extension of her work with talent. "I’ve spent so many years helping other people find their confidence, develop their skills, and tell their stories," she said. "The idea of bringing those experiences into a podcast, where I could have meaningful, entertaining conversations with people from all walks of life, is incredibly appealing."

The competition involves multiple elimination rounds. The current phase will cut the group of ten finalists down to five. Voting for this round closes at 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, November 5, 2026. Supporters can cast one free vote per day through Sekoni’s official competition profile.

The Top Host competition also supports the Ryan Seacrest Foundation. The foundation builds interactive broadcast media studios inside children’s hospitals. These spaces allow young patients to explore radio, television, and other creative media formats.

Sekoni noted that the connection to children’s hospitals aligns with her professional interests. "Sometimes you have to be willing to step outside your comfort zone and see where the journey takes you," she said. "After years of encouraging others to take that leap, I suppose it’s my turn!"