Miss Universe Nigeria - abbreviated as MUN - is a national beauty pageant in Nigeria to select a Miss Universe delegate. 2023 marked a revival of the original contest organised by Silverbird Productions, Nigeria's Miss Universe franchise holder since 1983. The winner automatically becomes Nigeria's Miss Universe delegate, while the 1st runner-up is the Miss Supranational representative. Although Hannah Iribhogbe occasionally used the Miss Nigeria Universe title during her reign, she had actually competed in MBGN 2022.

Miss Universe Nigeria
Formation1983 (Original run)
2023 (Revival)
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersLagos
Location
Membership
Pageant organiser
Silverbird Group
Websitemissuniversenigeria.org

The current titleholder is former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina, who represented Taraba.

History

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Daily Times - MBGN's rival pageant Miss Nigeria organisers - originally owned the country's rights to Miss Universe, but ceased to send winners after their only representative Edna Park's onstage ruckus at the semi-final.[1] In 1983, following heavy publicity,[2][3] Omololu Ojehomon won the 1984 edition of the newly established "Miss Universe Nigeria" competition, but this maiden edition was considered a failure as Ojehomon was ultimately dethroned before she could compete abroad.[4] Fashion model Yemi Fawaz, who placed third, described the contest as "highly controversial" owing to the selection of two contestants as second-place winners, and lambasted the judges' bias against mixed-race delegates. She also criticised Silverbird for ignoring contestants who had competed in the organisation's first-ever pageant.[5]

Three years later, Silverbird president Ben Murray-Bruce relaunched the pageant as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, with Law student Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu winning the contest and becoming the country's first Miss Universe representative in 23 years.[6] MBGN soon acquired more franchises including Miss World, Miss International, and later Miss Supranational, with MBGN titleholders automatically became representatives. Computer Science and Mathematics student Agbani Darego – who would later win Miss World – became the first Nigerian to place at Miss Universe in 2001.[7]

In 2005, Silverbird created different titles for MBGN runners-up, including MBGN Universe, while MBGN's overall winner was renamed "MBGN World" and sent to Miss World only. Human Science student Roseline Amusu became the first MBGN Universe, but Nigeria failed to place until 2019 when Health and Human Services student Olutosin Araromi reached the Miss Universe top 20 after an 18-year drought.[8]

In 2023, Silverbird revived Miss Universe Nigeria, with Murray-Bruce's brother, Guy, stating that owing to Miss Universe's evolving criteria, MUN would take on a new format from MBGN, making them two entirely different entities. Unlike the latter pageant which focused on mostly Westernised beauty standards, MUN is all-inclusive, irrespective of marital status, body type, shade, height or weight.[9] [10]

In 2023, MBGN 2017 Ugochi Ihezue became the first woman to win two Silverbird-organised pageants since Bianca Onoh (MBGN and Miss Intercontinental) in 1989.

Titleholders

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Original edition

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Year State Miss Universe Nigeria Notes
1984 N/A Omololu Ojehomon 1984 edition held in 1983

Revival edition

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Year State Miss Universe Nigeria State Miss Supranational Nigeria
2023 Imo Ugochi Mitchell Ihezue[11] Anambra Genevieve Ukatu[12]
2024 TBA Zamfara Sectra Okundaye[13]

List of Miss Universe Nigeria titleholders (before and after Miss Universe Nigeria competition)

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  •   : Declared as Winner
  •   : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
  •   : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  •   : Ended as special awards winner
On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
Year State Miss Universe Nigeria Placement at Miss Universe Special awards Notes
Ben Murray-Bruce directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 1987
2024 Taraba Chidimma Adetshina TBA She was former Miss South Africa 2024 contestant finished in the Top 10 of the competition; She is half Nigerian and South African.
2023 Imo Ugochi Mitchell Ihezue Unplaced Mitchell previously made her pageantry in 2017 as the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and went to Miss World 2017 where she entered the Top 15 semi-finalists.
Between 2005 and 2022: The MGBN Universe was the right title to Miss Universe competition. The coronation held under the MBGN national pageant, Ben Murray-Bruce directorship.
2022 Edo Hannah Iribhogbe[14] Unplaced
2021 Anambra Maristella Okpala[citation needed] Unplaced
  • Best National Costume
Due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, no representative in 2020
2019 Taraba Olutosin Araromi[citation needed] Top 20
2018 Lagos Aramide Lopez Unplaced
2017 Sokoto Stephanie Agbasi Unplaced
2016 Anambra Unoaku Anyadike Unplaced Since no pageant in 2016, Anyadike was appointed by MBGN Organization to represent Nigeria at Miss Universe 2016 in Manila, the Philippines.
2015 Ebonyi Debbie Collins Unplaced
2014 Edo Queen Osem Celestine Unplaced
  • Miss Congeniality
2013 Imo Stephanie Okwu Unplaced
2012 Cross River Isabella Ayuk Unplaced Actually, Ayuk was selected to the Miss World pageant, due to age restriction, Ayuk disallowed to compete at Miss World, and she went to Miss Universe 2012 in Las Vegas. Meanwhile Damiete Granville who selected to Miss Universe pageant, replaced Ayuk to join Miss World 2012 in China.
2011 Bayelsa Sophie Gemal Unplaced
2010 Niger Ngozi Odaloni Unplaced
2009 Delta Sandra Otohwo Unplaced
2008 Taraba Stephanie Oforka Unplaced
2007 Bayelsa Ebinabo Potts-Johnson Unplaced
2006 Delta Tienepre Alexandra Oki Unplaced
2005 Lagos Roseline Amusu Unplaced
Before 2005:The MGBN was the right title to Miss Universe competition. The main winner of the MBGN national pageant usually competed at Miss Universe and Miss World competitions.
2004 Edo Anita Uwagbale Unplaced
2003 Cross River Celia Bissong Unplaced
2002 Anambra Chinenye Ochuba Unplaced
2001 Rivers Agbani Darego Top 10 Later, Agbani won Miss World 2001 in South Africa.
2000 Rivers Matilda Kerry Unplaced
1999 Imo Angela Ukpoma Unplaced
1998 Imo Chika Chikezie Unplaced
Did not compete between 1996—1997
1995 Kogi Toyin Raji Unplaced
  • Miss Congeniality
1994 Benue Susan Hart Unplaced
1993 Lagos Rihole Gbinigie Unplaced
1992 Akwa Ibom Sandra Petgrave Unplaced
1991 Lagos Tonia Okogbenin Unplaced
1990 Niger Sabina Umeh Unplaced
1989 Abuja Bianca Onoh Unplaced
1988 Warri Omasan Buwa Unplaced
1987 Imo Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu Unplaced

Wins by state

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State Titles Years
Imo 5 1987, 1998, 1999, 2013, 2023
Lagos 4 1991, 1993, 2005, 2018
Taraba 3 2008, 2019, 2024
Edo 2004, 2014, 2022
Anambra 2002, 2016, 2021
Cross River 2 2003, 2012
Bayelsa 2007, 2011
Niger 1990, 2010
Delta 2006, 2009
Rivers 2000, 2001
Sokoto 1 2017
Ebonyi 2015
Kogi 1995
Benue 1994
Akwa Ibom 1992
Abuja 1989
Warri 1988

Notable contestants

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Miss Universe Beauty from Around the World
  2. ^ Guy Murray-Bruce
  3. ^ "Ben Murray Bruce". MTVBase Meets. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  4. ^ Contesting Nationalisms: Gender, Globalization, and Cultural Representation in Nigerian Beauty Pageants p.43
  5. ^ Why I Have Never Been Married
  6. ^ Who Fathered Lynda Chuba's Twins?
  7. ^ Agbani Darego Marks 20th Anniversary of Winning Miss World
  8. ^ Silky Olutosin Araromi at Miss Universe
  9. ^ 35 Years After, Silverbird Group Unbundles MBGN
  10. ^ Miss Universe 2023 Now For All Women
  11. ^ "Ugochi Mitchel Ihezue Crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2023". Okay. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  12. ^ "MBGN 2022 winner: Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria Ada Eme and odas wey go represent di kontri for Miss World, Universe and oda international competitions". BBC News Pidgin. 22 October 2022. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Miss Supranational Nigeria 2023". Instagram. 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Meet Montana Felix - The Miss Universe Nigeria 2022". NewswireNGR. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.