Miss Nigeria

This article is about Miss Nigeria. For rival contest, see Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria.

Miss Nigeria is a pageant show used to showcase positive attributes of Nigerian women. Before 1986, winners represented Nigeria at international pageants including Miss World; this role is now performed by Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, while Miss Nigeria winners are ambassadors of Nigerian culture.

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) and the new tagline One Nation, One people, One Queen. Former MBGN Nike Oshinowo-Soleye has been designated as chief executive and creative director.

The current title holder is Damilola Agbajor, from Delta.

Competition

The new Miss Nigeria organisers promise 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 be proud to see their daughters, sisters and mothers possess.

Before it was discontinued in 2004, segments of the competition included 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 they were given numbers (unlike Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, participants did not represent states). The zonal winner and the first and second runners-up were then selected to take part in the grand finale in Lagos. Throughout the year, the winner was sponsored by several prestigious organisations, and earned endorsement deals.

In recent years, similarly-named contests like Miss Nigeria Entertainment have emerged. In addition, there are several versions of Miss Nigeria in different parts of the world, held for Nigerians living in these parts, including Miss Nigeria UK, Miss Nigeria Ireland, Miss Nigeria USA and Miss Nigeria Holland.

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 Nene Etule won the contest in 1959; she was eligible as the Southern Cameroons was under Nigerian constitution in the fifties.

• In 1960 the contest was briefly re-named "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; Damilola Agbajor is expected to perform a similar role at Nigeria's golden jubilee celebration on October 1.

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

• In 1964, the first Miss Nigeria to represent the country at Miss Universe was Enda Park, best remembered for causing a stir when she broke down in tears and collapsed on stage after her name was not announced as one of the finalists at Miss Universe 1964. Park was carried away by policemen and contest officials before spending the night in a Miami hospital under sedation where she was consoled by the wife of the Nigerian ambassador, who reportedly stated: "All the judges are white and they aren’t really competent to judge dark girls’ beauty". Since Park, no other Miss Nigeria winner has competed at Miss Universe.

• Rosaline Balogun became the first official Miss Nigeria at Miss World in 1967.

• In 1985, Miss Nigeria Eastern Zone Barbara Ana breeched protocol at the finals in Lagos by speaking against the growing trend of 'Sugardaddies' - wealthy individuals embarking on romantic relationships with considerably younger lovers who, in turn, ascertain monetary funds - and lost out to Rosemary Okeke, who was the last Miss Nigeria to compete at Miss World. Ana later admitted that her outspokeness had cost her the crown.

• In 1990, fashion student Binta Sukai was crowned Miss Nigeria, and remains the only northern woman to have acchived this feat (Grace Oyelude was born and raised in Northern Nigeria, but she was of Yoruba origin). Athough she admitted that she was of mixed heritage (her mother is half-Scottish), Sukai attracted criticism from the public who questioned her nationality and eligbility to compete.

• The winner with the longest reign is Miss Nigeria 2004 Ene Lawani, who will relinquish her title in 2010. Clara Ojo held the title for four years due to the organiser's incapability to convene a pageant for four years.

• In 2001, Applied Chemistry student and Akwa Ibom native Amina Ekpo became the first Miss Nigeria from the South-East. Miss Nigeria 2002 Sylvia Edem was the first South-Eastern winner.

• Following the success of Agbani Darego in Miss World in 2001, the Daily Times sued MBGN organisers Silverbird Entertainment, claiming that Miss Nigeria possessed sole rights to represent the country at international level and use the name - at international pageant shows, the reigning MBGN - who Daily Times manager Onukaba Adinoyi-Ojo described as "lowly-rated queens" - uses the "Miss Nigeria" title.

Criticism

The swimsuit parade, a former segment of the live shows, was regarded as a form of nudity . Although Miss Nigeria was praised for judging contestants according to Nigerian standards of beauty, others argue 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.

Critics have described the pageant as a parade of beauty with no brains. Former pageant manager Yomi Onanuga told an interveiwer 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.

Most of the winners have been light-skinned, and this has enraged the public who argue that "black is beautiful". 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. Other dark-skinned winners include Clara Ojo (1994), Vien Tetsola (1999), and Regina Nwabunar (1998).

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 pagent oraganisers often failled 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. Former title holder 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!"

Scandals

Several contestants have been caught forging their dates of birth to compete (as of 2010, the age limit is twenty-six). In 1977, it was discovered that Toyin Monney, who was also a secret single mother, had concealed information about her actual age; although she was not dethroned, she was not allowed to represent her country at Miss World. 2001 finalist Jane Povi Gam-Dede, who claimed she was twenty-three, had competed as a twenty-seven year-old in 2000 before deciding to participate the following year as a younger contestant.

The most famous age-scandal contestant is Miss Nigeria 2001, thirty year-old Valerie Peterside, who had not only lied about her actual age (she had told organisers she was twenty-five), but had also 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 the newly-crowned queen. Peterside, who had competed the previous year (still as a twenty-five year-old) and featured in the movie Millionares Are Saints, 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

In 2010, it was announced that Miss Nigeria would be re-introduced under new organisers AOE Events and Entertainment, marketing firm Azzagai Limited, and financial consultants Hudson Consulting Group. As with Miss America, the pageant has been re-launched as a programme providing scholarships to institutions of higer learning. In addition to the scholarship, prizes will include a luxury car, N3,000,000, one year accommodation in Lagos, and desinger wardrobe. Screening for potential contestant will be held in various Nigerian cities, and the first time ever, in Europe and America as well as other African nations.

The swimsuit segment has now been discontinued, and while beauty is still a requirement, organisers will now focus on other attributes while combining vintage glamour with modern elegance.

Winners will 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.

On September 28 2010, following the broadcast of a reality show which saw potential contestants compete in various tasks while the public voted for their favourite, nineteen-year old Damilola Agbajor was crowned by pageant organiser Oshinowo-Soleye - a duty often performed by the outgoing queen - in a ceremony held in Abuja; in previous years, grand finales had taken place in Lagos.

Title holders

Past winners and contestants have used the pageant as a launch pad for careers in music (Janet Fateye), fashion (Binta Sukai, Rosemary Okeke), acting (Rosemary Anieze, Omasan Buwa), and broadcasting (Bibiana Ohio). However, the whereabouts of most of the winners is unknown, as most have faded into obscurity.

Year	Title Holder	State of Origin	Notes
1957	Grace Oyelude	Western Region	Practised nursing; now retired
1958	Helen Anyamaeluna	Eastern Region	Qualified as secretary
1959	Nene Etule	N/A	Now Nene Malafa;only non-Nigerian to win the title
1960	Rosemary Anieze also known as "Miss Independence"	Mid-Western Region	Later Rosemary Anieze-Adams; worked as broadcaster and featured in sitcom The New Village Headmaster
1961	Clara Emefiena
1962	Yemi Idowu	Western Region	Semi-finalist Miss United Nations
1963	Alice Aleebe
1964	Edna Park		First - and last - official Miss Nigeria at Miss Universe
1965	Anna Ioboweime
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		Currently residing in America
1981	Tokunbo Onanuga		Demoted due to phoney qualifications
1982	Rita Martins
1984	Cynthia Oronsaye
1985	Rosemary Okeke		Later Rosemary Wright; worked as model, now fashion designer
1986	Rita Anuku		Sister of actor Hank Anuku; later became a businesswoman
1987	Stella Okoye	Imo	Attended catering school Dof Institute
1988	Wunmi Adebowale
1989	NOT HELD
1990	Binta Sukai	Kaduna	First Northern winner; now fashion reality show judge
1991	Bibiana Ohio		Pursued acting career, now broadcaster with Kiss FM Abuja
1992	NOT HELD
1993	Janet Fateye		Now Janet Gabriel; briefly featured in serial Mega Fortunes; 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	Founder of Africalert
2001	Valerie Peterside dethroned	Rivers	Dethroned for forging age and qualifications
2001	Amina Ekpo replaced Peterside	Akwa Ibom	First South-Eastern title holder; now resides in America, founder of organisation Touching Tender Hearts
2002	Sylvia Edem	Cross River	Now Sylvia Emechete; first South-Eastern winner
2003	Nwando Okwosa	Anambra	Later joined British Army
2004	Ene Lawani	Benue	Longest reign in the pageant history
2010	Damilola Agbajor	Delta

Unlike MBGN, Miss Nigeria organisers did not host pageants every year. This is expected to change after 2010.

Unofficial title holders

• In 1963, Gina Onyejiaka sponsored herself at Miss World after the country failed to send Miss Nigeria winner Alice Aleebe.

• 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; she 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.

Trivia

• Former Miss Western Nigeria Julie Coker - who is often wrongly described as the very first Miss Nigeria - competed in 1958, but finished second.

• Pharmacy graduate Janet Fateye ( Miss Nigeria 1993) and Sylvia Edem (Miss Nigeria 2002) were both top three finalists at MBGN in 1992 and 1998 respectively (Fateye had competed as Kemi Fateye). Omasan Buwa (MBGN 1987) had been a Miss Nigeria runner-up in 1986.

• In 2003, the first-runner-up, Pharmacy student Ewemade Ogbebor was chosen to represent Nigeria in Miss Earth, The following year, French undergraduate and future Nollywood actress Ufuoma Ejenobor, also a first runner-up, was sent to Miss Earth.

• Linda Ikeji - who went on to become Nigeria's highest-paid model - was a contestant in 2003, but failed to make the top ten.

• The Miss Nigeria Organizers had an agreement to take its Queen(s) to international pageants including Miss Earth. That changed since 2004.

See also

• Helen Ajayi (nee Prest) talks to The Sun II
• Janet Gabriel (formerly Fateye):Bio
• Miss Nigeria 2001 II
• Who's Who in Nigeria Entertainment!
• Vien to wed Chris Okotie?
• Nigeria's beauty queens