Miss Universe Nigeria (MUN) is a national beauty pageant that selects Nigeria's official representative to Miss Universe—one of the Big Four beauty pageants.
The current titleholder is Danielle Adewusi of Lagos. She will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2026 competition in Puerto Rico.
History 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.Miss Universe Beauty from Around the World In 1983, following heavy publicity, 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.Contesting Nationalisms: Gender, Globalization, and Cultural Representation in Nigerian Beauty Pageants p.43 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.Why I Have Never Been Married
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.Who Fathered Lynda Chuba's Twins? 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.Agbani Darego Marks 20th Anniversary of Winning Miss World
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.Silky Olutosin Araromi at Miss Universe
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.35 Years After, Silverbird Group Unbundles MBGN Miss Universe 2023 Now For All Women
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.
Background 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.
Titleholders Year State Miss Universe Nigeria International Placement Special Awards Notes1984N/AOmololu OjehomonDid not competeHeld in 19832023ImoMitchell IhezueUnplaced2024TarabaChidimma Adetshina1st Runner-Up2025AnambraOnyinyechi BasilUnplaced2026LagosDanielle AdewusiTBD
Placements
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 award(s) NotesBen Murray-Bruce directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 19872026LagosDanielle AdewusiTBA2025AnambraOnyinyechi BasilUnplaced 2024 Taraba Chidimma Adetshina 1st Runner-Up 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. colspan=6 2022 Edo Hannah Iribhogbe Unplaced 2021 Anambra Maristella Okpala Unplaced Best National Costume colspan=6 2019 Taraba Olutosin Araromi 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 colspan=6 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 colspan=6 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 StateTitlesYears Imo 5 1987, 1998, 1999, 2013, 2023 Anambra 4 2002, 2016, 2021, 2025 Lagos 1991, 1993, 2005, 2018 Taraba 3 2008, 2019, 2024 Edo 2004, 2014, 2022 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 Nyekachi Esther Douglas, MBGN 2019 (2023 & 2024) Florence Ibiyemi Fawaz, model (1984) Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, model (2024) Damilola Bolarinde, Miss Grand Nigeria 2022 (2025) Aisha Abubakar, Miss Global Nigeria 2026 (2025)
See also MBGN Miss Nigeria Mr Nigeria
References