Winners
Although Mary Bieoneh did not win the maiden edition of MBGN in 1986, she became the first Nigerian to be named African Continental Queen of Beauty, reaching the top ten at Miss World 1987. Other MBGN delegates who have received this honour are Chinenye Ochuba and Anita Uwagbale in 2002 and 2004 respectively. 1988 winner, Law student Bianca Onoh was crowned Miss Intercontinental in 1989, and Theatre graduate Sabina Umeh was the first Nigerian to win the Personality prize at Miss World 1990. Toyin Raji was the recipient in 1995, despite withdrawing from the pageant due to political reasons. Prior to this, Raji had been named Miss Congeniality at Miss Universe 1995.
MBGN's biggest achievement was in 2001 when Computer Science and Mathematics student Agbani Darego became the first native Sub-Saharan to clinch the Miss World title, and the first Nigerian in the top ten at Miss Universe.
Three MBGN winners have previously competed at Miss Nigeria: Omasan Buwa (1987), Sylvia Nduka (2010), and Isabella Ayuk (2004) Miss Nigeria 2002, Sylvia Edem, was in the top five at MBGN 1998, as was Miss Nigeria 1993 Pharmacy graduate Janet Fateye who had competed in MBGN 1992 as Kemi Fateye.
Many MBGN winners have pursued careers in entertainment, including Sabina Umeh, Regina Askia, Emma Komlosy (who reigned for the longest period in MBGN history from 1996-1998,and to date remains MBGN's only mixed-race winner), Celia Bissong, and Munachi Nwankwo. Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu and Omasan Buwa have moved into politics, and Nike Oshinowo has worked in pageantry.
Read more about this topic: Most Beautiful Girl In Nigeria (Pageant)
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“The two real political parties in America are the Winners and the Losers. The people don’t acknowledge this. They claim membership in two imaginary parties, the Republicans and the Democrats, instead.”
—Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (b. 1922)