Fashion

Top 10 Ex Fashion Beauty Queens in Nigeria in 2024.

Published

2 years ago

14 September 2024

Nigeria has always prided itself home and abroad to be a country from which Many beautiful women hail. She has also produced a lot of fashion models who made and are making waves on the global stage. These women have proven themselves to be not just fashion models, but also people of value in the society.

Some of these queens have used their popularity to make waves in the different industries that they chose for themselves.

Some of these beauty queens include;

1.BIANCA ODUMEGWU- OJUKWU.

Bianca odumegwu ojukwu was born on the 5th of august, 1988. She is the widow of former Biafran president, Chukwuemeka odumegwu ojukwu. Her journey as a fashion model and beauty pageant began during her days as a college student in England. She was convinced by her pals to contest for the place of miss martini. This was a search for what was known as `martini girl’. She was declared winner with a cash prize, modelling contract in japan and a feature in a Martini Rossi commercial. This wasn’t actualized due to her upcoming final exams.

She went on to contest for the place of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1988, a contest which she won. She subsequently won miss Africa and some other pageantries. Bianca became the first African to win the miss intercontinental pageant and was Nigeria’s queen in the miss world and miss universe pageants.

Fashion model, Bianca

2.AGBANI DAREGO.

Agbani Darego is a Nigerian model who made history by being the first Nigerian, and African to win the miss world title in 2001. She was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 22 December, 1982 and raised in port Harcourt. She ventured into modelling at age 16 but paused to further her education as she studied computer science at the university of port Harcourt.

The fashion model participated in the Most Beautiful girl in Nigeria(MBGN) in 2001 and won. She subsequently represented Nigeria in the miss world pageant and won, making her the first Nigerian and African to win that title. She launched her clothing line, AD by Agbani Darego in 2010 and has partnered with beauty and fashion brands, such as L’Oréal and MUD. Agbani Darego is married to Ishaya Danjuma and they have two kids.

fashion model, Darego

3.OMOWUNMI AKINNIFERI.

This beauty queen was born on the 4th of November, 1987 in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied international relations in the university of Lagos and began her career as a model at 16. She participated in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant (MBGN) which she won. Omowunmi also represented Nigeria at the miss world 2005 pageant in china where she engaged in tree planting for the Chinese government. She has partnered with beauty brands like sleek studios and MUD. Also, omowunmi has walked on the runway as a fashion model for top designers like Maki Oh, Lanre Da Silva and others. She launched her fashion line `omowunmi’ in 2016 and is presently pulling her weight as a brand expert.

Fashion model, Omowunmi

4.UNOAKU ANYADIKE.

The beauty queen was born on the 16th of September, 1994 in Lagos, Nigeria. She studied psychology in the university of Ibadan. Her modelling career began when she was 19 years. She participated in the MBGN pageant in 2014 and subsequently, 2015 when she won.

Unoaku also represented Nigeria in the miss world pageant in Spain, also in 2015 which she was part of the top 15 finalists. She has partnered with beauty brands such as sleek studios and MD.

This beauty has also been a runway model for fashion designers like Lanre Da Silva and others. She has also featured in campaigns for brands like Etisalat, Guinness and others. She has appeared on magazine covers, such as ThisDay Style, Genevieve, and Complete Fashion. Unoaku had also launched her clothing line `Unoaku Anyadike collection’ and she cites Naomi Campbell, Agbani Darego, Mo Abudu amongst others as her role models.

Fashion model, Unoaku

5.UGOCHI IHEZUE.

Ugochi Mitchell Ihezue, the beauty queen was born on the 8th of august, 1996 in Lagos Nigeria. She has a degree in international relations from the university of Lagos. Ugochi started her career in modelling at age 20, participated in the 2017 most beautiful girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant and emerged winner.

She also represented Nigeria at the Miss World in china, that same year in which she was a top 15 finalist. She has partnered with beauty brands like MUD, sleek studio amongst others.

The beauty queen went ahead to win the maiden edition of the Miss Universe pageant in 2023. She has worked as a fashion model on different runways for different brands and designers and also been on covers of fashion magazines. She is presently married to Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, an Anambra business mogul.

Fashion model, Ugochi

6.ANITA UKAH.

Anita ukah is a Nigerian model who was born on 14th of august, 1995 in Imo state. She studied environmental science at the university of port Harcourt. She began modelling at 22, and started her career when she won Miss Igbinedion university okada contest(IUO) contest in 2014.

Anita further participated in the Most Beautiful girl in Nigeria(MBGN) representing Imo state which she won. she also represented Nigeria at the Miss World 2018 pageant in China. She was a contestant in the big brother Naija season 9 `no loose guard’ reality show. Anita launched her fashion accessories brand called The Uzo Brand. The company produces leather made goods from locally sourced material and the brand focuses mainly on bags.

Anita

7.NYEKACHI DOUGLAS.

The Nigerian model was born on the 28th May, 1997 in Imo state, Nigeria. She studied mass communication at the university of Lagos. She began modelling at 21. Nyekachi is the longest serving beauty queen in the history of MBGN reigning for almost two years due to COVID -19. She participated in the MBGN pageant in 2019 which she won. She also represented Nigeria in Miss World in the same year in New York where she was a top 5 finalist. This queen was also crowned Miss World Africa in 2019 after Miss Toni Anne Singh of Jamaica.

Fashion model,Nyekachi

8.OLUCHI MADUBUIKE.

Oluchi Madubuike was born 2nd of April, 1997, in Abuja. She got a bachelor of science in nursing from the university of Texas. She began modelling at 23. Oluchi participated in the 2021 MBGN pageant which she won. She represented Nigeria at the miss world pageant in Puerto Rico. She worked as an intensive care nurse all through covid 19 until the time she came to contest for MBGN in 2021. Her modelling career kick started when she participated in miss Texas in 2016 and went ahead to to contest for miss Nigeria in 2019. She currently works as a travel nurse and works with different organizations.

Fashion model, oluchi

9.ADA EME.

Ada Emeh was born on 18th march, 1998. She studied peace and conflict studies at National open university of Nigeria. She participated in the 2022 edition most beautiful girl in Nigeria(MBGN) which she won, succeeding Oluchi Madubuike. Ada also represented Nigeria in Miss World that same year. She has modeled for brands like Nivea.

Fashion model,Ada Eme

10.CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA.

Chidimma was born in 2001 in Soweto, south Africa to a Nigerian father and south African mother. She grew up in cape town and is a law student. She entered into the miss south Africa 2024 competition. However, following scrutiny into her mother’s citizenship and concerns for safety and wellbeing, she withdrew from the contest despite being on the top 9. The concerns raised about her eligibility started when she was seen celebrating her success in a video surrounded by Nigerian relatives. The Miss South Africa pageant maintained that she fulfilled all the requirements to participate but she had to withdraw because of the heat.

Representing Taraba state on 31st of august, 2024, Chidimma contested for and won miss universe, Nigeria. She will further represent Nigeria at Miss Universe in Mexico scheduled for November, 2024.

fashion model,Chidimma

As said earlier, Nigeria has raised fashion models and beauty queens who are taking over the world unique ways. you the most? Which of the beauty queens intrigued you the most? I`ll love to know.

Related Topics:beauty Fashion Model Queen

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Models

Rachael Ojuromi Makes Chanel SS27 Runway Debut After Viral Lagos Show Recreation

Published

14 hours ago

7 October 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Rachael Ojuromi

Nigerian model and creative Rachael Ojuromi has made her Chanel runway debut at the fashion house’s Spring/Summer 2027 show in Paris, taking a fashion recreation she staged in Lagos to the Chanel runway. Ojuromi, 22, walked in Chanel’s SS27 presentation at the Grand Palais on October 5, where designer Matthieu Blazy presented his latest collection for the French fashion house.

For the show, Ojuromi wore a chartreuse-and-ash tweed look, featuring a yellowish-green and grey palette, with a crimson handbag. The outfit was part of Blazy’s SS27 collection, which brought Chanel’s signature tweed together with different textures and accessories.

Photo: Rachael Ojuromi

Her Chanel debut is also connected to a project she created in Lagos with Fasingha and photographer Odey Ikpä. The trio recreated looks inspired by Blazy’s Chanel Métiers d’Art collection using thrifted pieces and clothes they already owned, then photographed them in different parts of Lagos. Rather than copy the original presentation, they placed the looks in familiar city settings and gave the project a distinctly Nigerian setting.

The project soon drew attention to Ojuromi, Fasingha and Ikpä. Ojuromi said the idea was not simply to copy Chanel’s collection, but to capture the feeling behind Blazy’s work and interpret it through her own surroundings. The approach allowed the Lagos shoot to stand on its own rather than mirror the original collection.

Photo: Rachael Ojuromi

Blazy later noticed the project, creating a link between the Lagos recreation and Ojuromi’s appearance in Paris. Ojuromi has described the opportunity as the result of several steps rather than one defining moment.

For Ojuromi, modelling is part of a wider creative career. Before pursuing it seriously, she worked in filmmaking and creative direction and founded The Process Africa, a platform focused on documenting and supporting young African creatives. Her projects with Fasingha became another outlet for that work, often using Lagos as their backdrop.

Photo: Rachael Ojuromi

Her work in Lagos eventually opened a door to Paris, adding a major international runway credit to the creative career she had already been building.

Fashion

Onalaja Unveils Re:Birth at London Fashion Week After Studio Fire

Published

2 weeks ago

23 September 2026

Destiny Echobu

Photo: Jessica Madavo

Nigerian-British designer Kanyinsola Onalaja presented her Spring/Summer 2027 collection, Re:Birth, at London Fashion Week on Sunday, September 20, marking her first appearance on the event’s official calendar. The presentation came two months after a fire destroyed her London studio, warehouse and more than a decade of her work.

The fire at Onalaja’s studio and warehouse in northwest London destroyed past collections, samples, fabrics, sketchbooks, bespoke commissions and wholesale orders. Her mother had also recently sent her Istituto Marangoni graduate collection to London, along with pieces from some of her earlier collections. Those pieces were lost in the fire as well. The blaze reportedly lasted four days before it was extinguished.

Photo: ca.fashionnetwork.com

After the fire, Onalaja moved into a new studio and continued working towards London Fashion Week. She also returned to an unfinished 2020 project called Rising From the Ashes. The idea became the starting point for Re:Birth, with the collection drawing from the fire and what came after it.

Re:Birth is divided into three stages, The Burn, The Ash and The Rebirth. The opening looks use burnt orange shades and textures inspired by glowing embers. The colours then shift to smoky grey and black before brighter shades and flashes of light appear in the final stage.

Photo: ca.fashionnetwork.com

Handwork runs through the collection, with broken beads, fringe and feathers used across several pieces. Embroidery, fabric painting and dyeing bring Yoruba and Edo influences into the designs, while Onalaja’s 1970s-inspired “disco glam” style appears in the heavily embellished occasionwear.

The label also offers an extended size range. Onalaja’s official London Fashion Week profile lists sizes from XXS to XXXXL and describes the brand as focused on demi-couture womenswear, embroidery and embellishment. Founded in 2014, the label has dressed celebrities including Tems, Olivia Dean and Ciara.

Photo: ca.fashionnetwork.com

Rather than recreate what was lost, Re:Birth turns the experience into a new beginning, moving from the imagery of fire and ash towards colour, light and renewal

Fashion

Wisdom Kaye Goes From iPhone Fashion Videos to Winning the Virgil Abloh Award

Published

3 weeks ago

14 September 2026

Ene Unazi

Photo: Getty images

Wisdom Kaye started making fashion videos in 2020, filming styling ideas at home and posting them on TikTok. Six years later, the fashion creator has received one of the industry’s honours named after the late Virgil Abloh.

Kaye was presented with the Virgil Abloh Award, presented by LVMH, at Harlem’s Fashion Row’s 19th Annual Fashion Show & Style Awards in New York on September 8. The ceremony, held at The Glasshouse, was part of the events surrounding New York Fashion Week and recognised Black creatives across fashion, media and culture.

The award is particularly fitting for Kaye because his route into fashion did not begin with a traditional fashion job. His online presence came first. He built an audience through styling videos before moving into modelling, brand campaigns, runway appearances and major fashion events.

Kaye’s early TikTok videos were built around styling and visual transformation. He used clothes, editing and different characters to create short fashion-focused videos from his home. His work soon attracted attention from the fashion industry, and he was signed by IMG Models.

Wisdom Kaye speaking at the podium after winning the Virgil Abloh Award at the 19th Annual Harlem’s Fashion Row Style Awards.

From there, the Houston-born creator began working with some of fashion’s biggest names. Harlem’s Fashion Row lists Dior, Fendi, Prada, Valentino, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co., Coach and AMI Paris among the brands he has worked with. He has also walked for Balmain.

His move from social media creator to fashion professional has also included appearances on some of the industry’s biggest stages. In 2024, Kaye made his Met Gala debut wearing a dramatic Robert Wun look. The appearance further established him as a fashion figure beyond TikTok, while his online platform remained an important part of his career.

In 2025, Kaye was included in the inaugural TIME100 Creators list, recognising creators whose influence extends beyond social media. A year later, he took another step into the traditional fashion establishment when he joined the expert panel for the 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers. LVMH lists him alongside editors, stylists, creative directors and other established figures in the fashion industry.

That progression makes his Virgil Abloh Award notable. Abloh himself became known for challenging the usual boundaries between luxury fashion, streetwear, music and popular culture. He founded Off-White and became Louis Vuitton’s Men’s Artistic Director in 2018, a position he held until his death in 2021.

Wisdom Kaye speaking at the Virgil Abloh Award at the 19th Annual Harlem’s Fashion Row Style Awards.

Kaye’s career has followed a different route, but there is a clear connection in the way both understood the importance of culture beyond the traditional runway. Kaye first built an audience through his own content before fashion houses, modelling agencies and major events became part of his professional life.

At Harlem’s Fashion Row, his award was announced alongside honours for Erykah Badu, Brandon Blackwood, Jahleel Weaver, Audrey Smaltz and Recho Omondi. Badu received the Fashion Icon Award, Blackwood was named Designer of the Year, Weaver received Stylist of the Year, Smaltz received the Ann Lowe Maverick Award and Omondi was named Editor of the Year.

For Kaye, the Virgil Abloh Award marks another stage in a career that began with a phone, a wardrobe and an audience on social media. What started as fashion content made at home has grown into work with global fashion houses, appearances at the Met Gala, a place among TIME’s leading creators and, now, an award carrying the name of one of fashion’s most influential modern figures.