Miss Nigeria

Not to be confused with Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, Miss Earth Nigeria, or Miss World.

Miss Nigeria is an annual pageant show which was established to showcase positive attributes of Nigerian women Before 1986, winners represented Nigeria at international pageants including Miss World; this role is now performed by the winner of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria while the reigning Miss Nigeria is merely an ambassador.

In 2010, after a six-year hiatus, the Miss Nigeria pageant was re-launched under new management (previously it had been organised by Times Leisure Services, publisher of national newspaper Daily Times) with former MBGN Nike Oshinowo-Soleye designated as chief executive and creative director. She has now been replaced by former Miss Nigeria UK Elohor Aisien

The current title holder is Feyijimi Sodipo, from Ogun.

Competition

Segments of the original competition were Traditional, Swimsuit, Talent, Interview, and Evening Gown (in 2010, it was changed to Dance, Traditional and Couture), with contestants competing in zonal contests in different parts of the country where a token number of participants selected to compete at the grand finale. Throughout the year, the winner is sponsored by several prestigious organisations, and may land endorsement deals .

The 'new' Miss Nigeria organisers promised to create a family-friendly pageant, reminiscent of a time when opportunity came with responsibility, and womanhood was held in the highest regard. In a statement, Oshinowo-Soleye states that contest "will have no swimwear segment. We are not looking for fashion models tall or skinny; our young ladies would be judged on poise, intelligence, cultural values as well as beauty", qualities the organisers believe that every family would approve.

History

• The first Miss Nigeria was trainee nurse Grace Oyelude in 1957, who had recently gained admission into Nursing School, and competed when the pageant was a photo-contest.

• Camerounian seamstress Nene Etule won the contest in 1959; she was eligible as Southern Cameroon was under Nigerian constitution in the fifties.

• In 1960 the contest was briefly renamed "Miss Independence", as Nigeria had gained its independence from British rule that year. The title holder, future broadcaster and actress Rosemary Anieze, was involved in the Independence Day celebrations.

• Miss Nigeria 1962 Yemi Idowu was a semi-finalist at Miss United Nations 1963

• In 1964, the first Miss Nigeria at Miss Universe was salesgirl Enda Park, best remembered for causing a stir when she collapsed on stage after failing to reach the top ten. Park was carried away by policemen and contest officials before spending the night in a Miami hospital under sedation, where she was consoled by Nneka Onyegbula, wife of the Nigerian ambassador, who reportedly stated: "All the judges are white and they aren’t really competent to judge [a] dark girl's beauty". Park was the last Miss Nigeria to compete at Miss Universe, and the last Nigerian delegate until 1987 when MBGN 1986 Lynda Chuba represented the country.

• In 1985, Miss Nigeria Eastern Zone Barbara Ana stirred controversy during the interview segment at the grand finale by criticising 'Sugardaddies' (wealthy individuals embarking on romantic relationships with considerably younger lovers who, in turn, ascertain monetary funds) and lost out to Rosemary Okeke. Ana later admitted that her outspokenness had cost her the crown . In 2011, she was found murdered in her Abuja home.

• The winner with the longest reign is Miss Nigeria 2004 Ene Lawani. Clara Ojo held the title for four years due to the organiser's incapability to convene a pageant for four years.

• Nwando Okwuosa was the first Miss Nigeria at Miss International.

Criticism

Although Miss Nigeria has been praised for judging contestants according to Nigerian standards of beauty, it has been argued that Miss Nigeria was more Western than African, and did not fully represent Nigerian culture. In 2001, finalist Keltuma Shawanma was accused of going commando underneath her short Aso Oke outfit in an attempt to secure top marks from the judges who were reportedly offended, along with most of the audience. Shawanma later argued that she had worn a g-string. Although Oshinowo-Soleye promised that future winners will be truly representative of Nigerian beauty, the 2010 finalists wore tartan during a dance interval .

Critics have described the pageant as a parade of beauty with no brains. Former pageant manager Yomi Onanuga told an interviewer in 2006: "We are tired of seeing girls on stage after two weeks in camp, and having much fun, all we see is that they ask them [questions] and they win. Two months after, somebody asks her the same question, she cannot answer, and people begin to ask, Where did she get her crown from?". In 1991, highly tipped English Literature undergraduate Ibinabo Fiberesima lost the crown to model Bibiana Ohio, after she was unable to name the vice-chancellor of the University of Ibadan, which she attended.

In 1988, dark-skinned catering student Stella Okoye crowned her successor Wunmi Adebowale, who was also dark, thus breaking a long line of light-skinned winners, yet Okoye's reign had not been without controversy - fellow contestant Omasan Buwa told The Punch in 2011 "In the hall that day, there was a big uproar and they had to take her out with police escort[s]. The audience felt she was very dark."

The pageant had been slated for failing to live up to the glamour of MBGN. After 1986, winners ceased to partake in Miss World, and pageant oraganisers often failed to hold the contest every year due to a number of reasons, mainly financial. The prize money and lack of endorsements were also a cause for concern, particularly before the new millennium. Miss Nigeria 1993 Janet Fataye told an interviewer: "People thought I was raking in all the money there was, but that wasn't the case. The prize money at the time was a mere N12,000, given to me at N1,000 a month. Yes, I got the car prize that was being serviced by Daily Times, but then I had to buy petrol!"

Rita Anuku, who won the contest in 1986, has stated "I think they have commercialized the whole affair; it is no longer what it used to be. It was something that people looked forward to. People wanted to [go] there, feel happy and see the right person being chosen and congratulated the person happily. But now, I guess they are looking for something else and not beauty at all."

Scandals

In 2001, magazine City People revealed that the reigning Miss Nigeria, thirty-year-old Valerie Peterside, had lied about her actual age (she had told organisers she was twenty-five) and forged her university qualifications (she was reportedly expelled from the Ahmadu Bello University prior to graduation due to examination malpractice) and NYSC certificates. Following and investigation carried out by several prominent Nigerians including former Daily Times editor Tony Momoh and former Miss Western Nigeria Julie Coker, a decision was made to dethrone her. Peterside, who had competed the previous year (still as a 25-year-old), fought to keep the crown, but was forced out, allowing first runner-up Amina Ekpo to take over.

Despite her popularity as Miss Nigeria 2002, International Relations graduate Sylvia Edem attracted further media attention when it was rumoured she had forged her date of birth to compete, like Peterside before her. It was believed that Edem was thirty years old, until an investigation confirmed she was twenty-three.

Miss Nigeria 1981 Tokunboh Onanuga was demoted after a flaw was discovered on her WAEC certificate.

Return of Miss Nigeria

The pageant has now been re-launched as a programme providing scholarships to institutions of higher learning in Nigeria. The swimsuit segment has now been discontinued, and while beauty is still a requirement, organisers will now focus mainly on other attributes while combining vintage glamour with modern elegance.

Winners no longer represent Nigeria at international pageants, but will now work for the Miss Nigeria Foundation, and the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria through the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, Health and Women Affairs, while also making herself available to work on special projects on behalf of International Non- governmental Organizations such as WHO and One International.

Miss Nigeria now includes a reality show which sees potential contestants compete in various tasks with the public voting for their favourites who will compete in the live show.

Title holders

Year	Title Holder	State of Origin	Notes
1957	Grace Oyelude	Northern Region
1958	Helen Anyamaeluna	Mid Western Region
1959	Nene Etule	N/A	Now Nene Malafa; married to former Camerounian ambassador to Nigeria Penuel Malafa;
1960	Rosemary Anieze also known as "Miss Independence"	Mid-Western Region
1961	Clara Emefiena
1962	Yemi Idowu	Western Region	Now Yemi Majekodunmi; was semi-finalist at Miss United Nations
1963	Alice Aleebe
1964	Edna Park	Lagos	First - and last - official Miss Nigeria at Miss Universe
1965	Anna Eboweime	Mid-Western Region	Now Anna Ode, currently spokesperson for the Elixir range in Nigeria
1966	NOT HELD
1967	Rosaline Balogun	Western Region
1968	Foluke Ogundipe	Western Region
1969	Stella Owivri
1972	Victoria Bamidele
1977	Toyin Monney
1978	Irene Omagbemi
1979	Helen Prest	Bendel	Later Helen-Prest Davis and now Helen Prest-Ajayi, currently an author and columnist
1980	Syster Jack	Rivers
1981	Tokunbo Onanuga
1982	Rita Martins
1984	Cynthia Oronsaye
1985	Rosemary Okeke	Imo
1986	Rita Anuku	Bendel
1987	Stella Okoye	Imo
1988	Wunmi Adebowale
1989	NOT HELD
1990	Binta Sukai	Kaduna
1991	Bibiana Ohio
1992	NOT HELD
1993	Janet Fateye		Now known as Janet Gabriel; IT consultant and former pharmacist, currently pursuing music career with band Neophonics in United Kingdom
1994	Clara Ojo	Edo
1998	Regina Nwabunar	Abia
1999	NOT HELD
2000	Vien Tetsola also known as the "Millennium Queen"	Delta
2001	Valerie Peterside dethroned	Rivers	Dethroned for forging age and qualifications, whereabouts unknown
2001	Amina Ekpo replaced Peterside	Akwa Ibom	First South-Eastern title holder; CEO Presiasy Ltd, residing in America
2002	Sylvia Edem	Cross River
2003	Nwando Okwosa	Anambra	Later joined British Army
2004	Ene Lawani	Benue	Now a fashion designer specializing in headgear
2010	Damilola Agbajor	Delta
2011	Feyijimi Sodipo	Ogun

Other notable contestants

• Julie Coker (1958) - Former Newsreader
• Joan Okorodudu (1981) - Fashion Designer
• Omasan Buwa (1986) - Politician and colunmist
• Sylvia Nduka (2010) - MBGN 2011
• Linda Ikeji (2003) - Model and blogger
• Ufuoma Ejenobor (2004) - Actress
• Ibinabo Fiberesinma (1991) - Actress
• Queen Nwokeye (?) - Actress
• Isabella Ayuk (2004) - Current MBGN

Unofficial title holders

• In 1963, Gina Onyejiaka sponsored herself at Miss World after Nigeria failed to send Miss Nigeria winner Alice Aleebe; the High Commission in the United Kingdom refused to acknowledge Onyejiaka as the country's representative.

• In 1966, Miss World organisers disqualified mother-of-two Uzor Okafor as she was not the official Miss Nigeria - no contest had been held that year. Okafor later claimed that she was not interested in the pageant, but had been persuaded to represent her country by her British husband.

• Due to the Nigerian Civil war, no contest was held in 1969, yet Morenkike Faribidio was sent to represent Nigeria at Miss World that year.

External links

• Official website