Agbani Darego - Miss World 2001

Miss World 2001

In November 2001, Darego was crowned Miss World, becoming the first native Sub-Saharan African to claim the title (Although past winners, such as Penelope Coelen and Anneline Kriel, are South African, they are of European descent, and Antigone Costanda, who represented Egypt in 1954 is of Greek heritage). Her victory in the pageant was widely welcomed in her home country, and her one year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant. Darego was honoured with the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON after her win as Miss World in 2001. During her reign, she visited a number of countries which included the United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, the United States, Germany, Italy, China, Spain and France.