Miss Nigeria was a pageant show which ran from 1957 to 2004, used to showcase positive attributes of Nigerian women - elegance, poise, talent, intelligence and culture as well as beauty. Before 1986, its winners represented Nigeria at international pageants, such as Miss World. The mantle then fell on the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria,reducing Miss Nigeria winners to performing ceremonial duties in the country, and occasionally travelling abroad as ambassadors of Nigerian culture.[1]
[edit] Competition
Miss Nigeria was divided into different segments, including Traditional Costume, Swimsuit, Talent, Interview, and Evening Gown. Contestants competed in zonal contests in different parts of the country, where they were given numbers (unlike Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, they 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, there have been similarly-named contests like Miss Nigeria Entertainment at the Tinapa Studios in Calabar, Cross River State by Who's Who in Nigeria Entertainment, where contestants were culled from the thirty-six states and the Federal Capital Territory to compete for the crown [2]. In addition, there are several version of Miss Nigeria in different parts of the world, held for Nigerians living in these parts. These include Miss Nigeria UK, Miss Nigeria USA and Miss Nigeria Holland. However, the Daily Times do not have a hand in organising these pageants.[3] [4] [5]
[edit] Criticism
The swimsuit parade was been 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.
Critics described the pageant as a parade of 'beauty with no brains'. In 1991, an English Literature undergraduate of the University of Ibadan, Ibinabo Fiberesima, lost out to Bibiana Ohio after she was unable to name the vice-chancellor of the institution she attended.
Despite being the favourite to win, Miss Nigeria 2002 Sylvia Edem attracted further media attention when it was rumoured she had forged her age to compete, like Valerie Ama Peterside before her - it was believed that Edem was thirty years old. Investigations later revealed she was twenty-three. [6].
Until the mid-eighties, most of the winners were light-skinned, and this heightened the 'Black is Beautiful' outcry. However, in 1987, catering student Stella Okoye, was crowned Miss Nigeria, thus breaking a long line of light-skinned winners. Other dark-skinned winners include Vien Tetsola (1999), Wunmi Adebowale (1988), Clara Ojo (1994) and Regina Nwabunar (1998).
The pageant was slated for not being as glamorous as Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Since 1986, none of its winners have taken part in Miss World. The oraganisers often failled to hold the contest every year due to a number of reasons, mostly financial.
It is not known if Miss Nigeria will continue, as no contest has been held since 2004.
[edit] Trivia
- The only non-Nigerian to win the contest was Camerounian Nene Etule, in 1959. She was deemed eligible to take part as the Southern Cameroons was part of Nigeria in the fifties.
- The very first Miss Nigeria to take part in Miss Universe was Enda Park in 1964.[7] [8] Three years later, Rosaline Balogun became the first official Miss Nigeria at Miss World.
- In 1977, it was discovered that Toyin Monney had not only lied about her age, but also about her secret child. Although she was not dethroned, it led to her downfall as Miss Nigeria; she was not sent to represent her country at Miss World. [9]
- In 1985, during the talent stage Barbara Ana, who had won Miss Nigeria Eastern Zone, breeched protocol by preaching against the growing trend of 'Sugardaddies' - wealthy individuals embarking on romantic relationships with considerably younger lovers who, in turn, ascertain monetary funds. In a recent interview, Ana claimed that her outspokeness had cost her the crown.[10]
- In 1990, fashion student Binta Sukai became the first Miss Nigeria from a northern state. She attracted a lot of criticism from the public after it was rumoured that she was not really Nigerian. Later it was revealed that she was one-quarter Scottish.[11]
- Miss Nigeria 1994 Clara Ojo held the title for four years. No contest was held until 1998.
- In 2001, Applied Chemistry student and 2001 first runner-up Amina Ekpo from Akwa Ibom was crowned Miss Nigeria after the reigning queen, former Miss Abuja and one-time Nollywood actress Valerie Ama Peterside was stripped of her title for lying about her age and forging her qualifications. Peterside, who had competed the previous year, fought to keep the crown, but was eventually dethroned. [12]
- Following the success of Agbani Darego in Miss World in 2001, Daily Times sued Silverbird Entertainment, claiming that only Miss Nigeria had the right to represent the country at international level and use the name (at international pageant shows, the reigning Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria bears the title "Miss Nigeria"). [13]
- Bikinis are banned from the live pageant shows. This is said to "restore the pageant's dignity". Maillot swimsuits are worn instead.[14]
- Pharmacy student Janet Fateye ( Miss Nigeria 1993) and Sylvia Edem (Miss Nigeria 2002) both made it into the top three in Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria before taking part in Miss Nigeria. Omasan Buwa (MBGN 1987) had been a Miss Nigeria runner-up in 1986.
- In 2001, a contestant was accused of going commando underneath her short national costume, in a bid to win top marks from the judges. She later denied this, claiming she had worn a g-string.[citation needed]
- The winner of Miss Nigeria 2003, Law graduate Nwando Okuwosa is now a cadet in the British Army[15].
- In 2003, Pharmacy student and first-runner-up Ewemade Ogbebor was chosen to represent Nigeria in Miss Earth. Her mentor was Miss Nigeria 1991 first-runner-up Ibinabo Fiberesimathough Ewemade was chosen it was Ufuoma Ejenobor that eventually represented Nigeria.[16] [17]miss Earth
- Unlike MBGN, the Miss Nigeria organisers did not have an official website.
[edit] Title holders
| Year | Title Holder | State of Origin |
| 1957 | Grace Oyelude | Western Region |
| 1958 | Helen Anyamaeluna | Eastern Region |
| 1959 | Nene Etule | Non-Nigerian (Cameroon) |
| 1960 | Rosemary Anieze also known as "Miss Independence" | East -Central |
| 1961 | Clara Emefiena | |
| 1962 | Yemi Idowu | Western Region |
| 1963 | Alice Aleebe | |
| 1964 | Edna Park | |
| 1965 | Anna Ioboweime | |
| 1966 | NOT HELD | |
| 1967 | Rosaline Balogun | |
| 1968 | Foluke Ogundipe | Ogun |
| 1969 | Stella Owivry | |
| 1977 | Toyin Monney | |
| 1978 | Irene Omagbemi | | |
| 1979 | Helen Prest[18] | Bendel |
| 1980 | Syster Jack | |
| 1981 | Tokunbo Onanuga | |
| 1982 | Rita Martins | |
| 1984 | Cynthia Oronsaye | |
| 1985 | Rosemary Okeke[19] | |
| 1986 | Rita Anuku | |
| 1987 | Stella Okoye | Imo |
| 1988 | Wunmi Adebowale | |
| 1989 | NOT HELD | |
| 1990 | Binta Sukai | Kaduna |
| 1991 | Bibiana Ohio | |
| 1992 | NOT HELD | |
| 1993 | Janet Fataye | |
| 1994 | Clara Ojo | Edo |
| 1998 | Regina Nwabunar | Abia |
| 1999 | Vien Tetsola | Delta |
| 2000 | NOT HELD |
| 2001 | Valerie Peterside Dethroned | Rivers |
| 2001 | Amina Ekpo Replaced Peterside | Akwa Ibom |
| 2002 | Sylvia Edem[20] | Cross River |
| 2003 | Nwando Okwosa | Anambra |
| 2004 | Ene Lawani[21] | Benue |
Unlike MBGN, Miss Nigeria organisers do not host pageants every year.
[edit] Unofficial title holders
- The very first woman to bear the title "Miss Nigeria", Julie Coker, did not actually participate in Miss Nigeria - it had not started then. She had been crowned Miss Western Nigeria (a.k.a Miss West). Coker, who went on to become the Nigerian female newsreader, was chosen to take part in Miss World in the early fifties, and from then on was occasionally known as "Miss Nigeria".[22] [23]
- In 1963, Gina Onyejiaka paid her own way to take part in Miss World pageant after the country failed to send 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. Uzor was persuaded to represent her country by her British husband.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
