Nigerian Beauty Queens still rocking

By Mmachi Ilechukwu
Beauty queens reign for some time and then, they disappear into the thin air. But some daring ones hardly leave the scene as they enlarge their territories, break records and make something fantastic out of themselves. These queens are not just winners of beauty pageants, they are equally legends of our time, and they are currently rocking their worlds.

Helen Prest Ajayi

Helen Prest Ajayi is one queen that is deeply loved by many Nigerians. She reigned as Miss Nigeria in 1979 with grace and composure. She represented Nigeria in various beauty pageants including the Miss World pageant. Helen is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and also holds an LLB and LLM from the prestigious Kings College London.

She is also a columnist in ThisDay style magazine, where she writes a popular life style column. She is the creative director of media business company and my life time solutions.com. She is happily married to Tosin Ajayi and they both have three children. Helen never goes wrong with her fashion style and she still looks incredibly beautiful for a woman who recently clocked 51.

Bianca Onoh Ojukwu

Bianca the daughter of former Anambra State Governor, Christian Onoh.She was the Most Beautiful Girl, Nigeria in 1989. She represented Nigeria in the Miss Universe beauty pageant and went on to win the Miss Intercontinental in 1989, making her the first Nigerian girl to win an international beauty pageant.

However, in the 90’s, scandals trailed Bianca because of her marriage to the Biafran warlord , Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu who happened to be her father’s childhood friend and thirty years her senior. The scandals led her to resign.

Bianca is a successful business woman who owns a skin and beauty clinic in Enugu.She is also a former lawyer and was recently appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan as special assistant on Diaspora affairs. Bianca Onoh Ojukwu is one queen that is forever in the minds of Nigerians not only because of her marriage to Ojukwu but because she is a queen that achieved more than what society expected of her.

Regina Askia Williams

Regina Askia took over from Bianca Onoh Ojukwu when she resigned halfway through her reign. She wore the crown of the Most Beautiful Girl, Nigeria in 1989. She proved herself a worthy beauty queen . Regina went on to become one of the pioneering actors in Nollywood.

She featured in many Nollywood movies, most times taking the lead roles. She has won several awards including the Best Actress,Nigeria in the year 2000 by Afro Hollywood London. She also has her own fashion label Regine Fashions.

Even though Regina is no longer in Nigeria, she can never be forgotten. She now resides in New York where she is a registered nurse and also married to Rudy Williams with children.

Sabina Umeh

Sabina was Crowned the Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria in 1990. She participated in Miss Universe, Miss Intercontinental and Miss World where she won the Miss Personality award. She is a specialist in dance choreography and acting and also has a career in singing and modeling. She is happily married to Kessi Jabri and they both have children. Her album is set to release this 2011.

Nike Osinowo Soleye

Nike Osinowo Soleye was crowned the Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria in 1991. She represented Nigeria in the Miss World beauty pageant that same year. Nike is an entrepreneur. She owned one of Nigeria’s first spa and has also created her own range of beauty products for the Nigerian market.

She went on to release her own work out video Nike Osinowo, fit, forty and fabulous. In 2010, after a six year attempt, Nike finally bought the Miss Nigeria franchise from former organizers Daily times, and is now chief executive and creative director of the pageant.

Nike fashion style is perfect and one can never go wrong by imitating her. Although Nike is in her forties, one cannot help but agree that age is only a number. She is happily married to her husband Tunde Soleye.

Angela Ukpoma

Angela Ukpoma was crowned the Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria in 1999. She represented Nigeria in the Miss World Pageant. She has now changed her name to Angel Baldwin and currently resides in Washington United States of America. She is presently a model and a voice over artiste. Angel Baldwin is still looking as dashing as ever.

Matilda Kerry

Kerry was crowned the Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria in 2000 after which she represented Nigeria in in the Miss World 2000. Kerry made leprosy her project as a beauty queen and she promoted awareness of the disease. Since the end of her reign, Dr Kerry has continued to use her public persona to promote healthy living and disease prevention in Nigeria.

Kerry is presently a medical doctor and the president of the George Kerry Life Foundation, a non governmental organization that promotes cervical health Campaign. Queens like Kerry only proves that Nigerian beauty queens are not just dumb beauties, they are also loaded with brains which makes them complete.

Agbani Darego

Agbani Darego is a shinning star that needs no introduction. She won the Most Beautiful Girl Nigeria in 2001. She later broke records for winning the Miss World 2001 crown. She was the first black African to win the Miss World title.

This made her a star both home and abroad. She was given a Nigerian honour by former president Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Agbani is a former L’Oreal international model and is currently signed to Next models New York. Agbani has a successful modelling career and is a role model to numerous Nigerians

Omowunmi Akinnifesi

Beauty, Poise and brains won Omowunmi Akinnifesi the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria crown. She represented Nigeria in the Miss World beauty pageant in China that same year. She did’nt stop there, she went on to win the Miss Tourism international in Ukraine. Omowunmi just keeps getting it right.

This queen is a graduate of Geography and regional planning from the university of Lagos. In 2009, she was appointed environmental ambassador by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. When it comes to style, Omowunmi never fails to dazzle.

She is simply classy and fabulous. She runs her own public relations and ushering outfit “Elle Poise” and she was recently chosen as the Allure style icon 2011.

Culled from the Vanguard