Agbani Darego

Last updated
Agbani Darego
MFR
Agbani Darego.jpg
Agbani Darego, Miss World 2001
Born (1982-12-22) 22 December 1982 (age 41)
Lagos, Nigeria [1] [2]
Other namesA.D, Agbani Darego
Education
Alma mater New York University
Spouse
Ishaya Danjuma
​
(m. 2017)​
Children2
Beauty pageant titleholder
Title Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2001
Miss World 2001
Hair color Black
Eye color Brown
Major
competition(s)		 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2001
(Winner)
Miss Universe 2001
(Top 10)
Miss World 2001
(Winner)
(Miss World Africa)
Website http://agbanidarego.com/

Chief Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite 'Agbani' Darego, MFR [3] (born 22 December 1982) is a Nigerian model and beauty queen who was crowned Miss World 2001. She was the first black African to win Miss World. [4]

Contents

Early life

Abonnema-native Darego was born in Lagos to a family as the sixth of eight children. At age two, her family relocated to Port Harcourt where she was raised in D-Line. [5] Darego attended Bereton Montessori Nursery and Primary School, and at ten was sent to boarding school in a bid to shield her from her mother who battled breast cancer. Her mother, Inaewo, owned a rice trading business and a clothing boutique, but died two years after her daughter's move to boarding school. Darego has spoken of how the loss prepared her for tough challenges in the future. As a teenager, Darego longed to be a model, and auditioned for the M-Net Face of Africa modelling competition despite her conservative father's wishes, but was not chosen as a finalist. Darego attended Federal Government Girls' College, Abuloma. [6] Upon completing her secondary education she attended University of Port Harcourt where she studied Computer Science and Mathematics. [7]

Pageantry

In 2001, Darego was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Contrary to popular belief, Darego did not replace Valerie Peterside after the latter was dethroned; Peterside had competed in rival pageant Miss Nigeria. A few months later she was a contestant at Miss Universe, and became the first Nigerian to place among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh overall. She was the only top ten contestant to wear a modest maillot as opposed to a revealing bikini during the swimsuit competition. [8]

In November that year, she became the first Indigenous African to claim the Miss World title (Past winners Penelope Coelen and Anneline Kriel, both of South Africa, are of European descent, and Antigone Costanda, who represented Egypt in 1954 is of Greek heritage). Darego's victory was widely welcomed in her home country, and her one-year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant, and an MFR.

Modelling

Prior to winning MBGN, Darego featured in print commercials for boutique chain Collectables. After Miss Universe she was invited by Naomi Campbell to participate in Frock 'n' Roll, a charity fashion show in Barcelona, and soon negotiated a modelling deal with Trump Model Management in America. [9] Shortly after her reign as Miss World she was represented by London and Paris branches of Next Model Management and landed a three-year contract with L'Oréal, becoming only the second Black model to accomplish this feat after Vanessa Williams, and was photographed by Annie Leibovitz, a big name in Americans portrait photograph sphere [10] for Vogue . Other brands she has modelled for include Avon, Christian Dior, Sephora, Target, and Macy’s. Darego has also appeared in Elle , Marie Claire , Allure , Trace , Stitch, Cosmopolitan , and Essence magazines, working with numerous designers including Oscar de la Renta, Marc Bouwer, Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Gianfranco Ferre.

In her homeland Darego has appeared in advertising campaigns for hair care brand Gentle Touch with model Oluchi, and served as the face of Arik Air. [11] She has also graced the covers of Complete Fashion, Mania, ThisDay Style, Genevieve, True Love, and TW Magazine.

Other work

Agbani Darego pictured by Michael Spafford at the House of Commons in 2001 Agbani Darego Miss World.jpg
Agbani Darego pictured by Michael Spafford at the House of Commons in 2001

Darego has judged numerous pageant, fashion and modelling competitions including Miss World 2014, Miss England 2002, [12] [13] Mr. Scotland 2002, [14] and Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 and 2014. [15] In 2010, she launched a style and fashion reality show Stylogenic on Nigerian television, and three years later announced her denim range, AD by Agbani Darego, which includes jeans, dresses, sunglasses and bags.

Personal life

In the aftermath of her win in 2001, Darego was awarded an honorary chieftaincy by the Council of Chiefs of Lagos. At the time of her investiture, she was one of the youngest chiefs in the country. [16]

Due to her busy work schedule, Darego left the University of Port Harcourt, but after moving to New York where she was signed to Next Model Management, Ford Models, and Trump Models, she enrolled with New York University to study Psychology, graduating in May 2012.

In April 2017, Darego married her longtime partner Ishaya Danjuma, son of billionaire General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, in a ceremony held in Marrakesh. Together they have a son who was born in September 2018, and welcomed another child in December 2020.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria</span> Beauty pageant

The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria – often abbreviated as MBGN – is a pageant organised by Silverbird Group with the main purpose of sending representatives to international competitions. Originally known as Miss Universe Nigeria, it was renamed Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria after news publishers Daily Times lost their license to send delegates from rival contest Miss Nigeria to Miss World. Since 2005, the pageant has produced multiple representatives, but the MBGN World recipient is considered the overall winner. Miss Universe Nigeria was reestablished in 2023, breaking away from MBGN and operating as an entirely different pageant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrie Stroup</span>

Carrie Ann Stroup is an American TV host, fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss World America 2001 and represented her country in Miss World 2001 but unplaced.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flaviana Matata</span> Tanzanian beauty queen and fashion model (born 1987)

Flaviana Matata is a Tanzanian fashion model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe Tanzania 2007 and represented her country at Miss Universe 2007 where she placed Top 10. She is the one of top Seven list of models that have recorded the highest income in Africa mentioned by 2013 Forbes Africa. In 2017 she was mentioned by okay.com as the one of Top 100 Women in Africa

Anne Suinner-Lawoyin is a Nigerian businesswoman, former tv host and beauty pageant titleholder.

Matilda Kerry is a Nigerian physician,tv host and beauty pageant titleholder. She currently a co-host on the Nigerian version of The Doctors. She first achieved national fame as the winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2000.

Miss Nigeria is an annual pageant showcasing positive attributes of Nigerian women, and awarding university scholarships. The winner emerges winner portrays exemplary qualities and serves as a role model for young women in the country. The pageant is currently organised by Daily Times.

Omotu Bissong is a Nigerian actress, tv host, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2003 and represented her country at Miss World 2003 and Miss Universe 2003 pageants. best known as Funke Lawal in Desperate Housewives Africa.

Isabella Agbor Ayuk is a Nigerian actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist and beauty pageant titleholder. She is renowned for winning the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 2012.

Port Harcourt International Fashion Week is an annual clothing and fashion event held in the oil capital of Nigeria, Port Harcourt. This event, a part of fashion in Nigeria, first took place in 2013 and continues to be jointly organized by Neo Mantra Ltd and Bruno Creazioni Company. The event lasts three days. Its principal sponsor is the Rivers State government.

Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA) is a local government area of Rivers State in southern Nigeria. It is one of the 23 local government areas created for the state. Its administrative seat is located in Port Harcourt. Although the local government consists of two different ethnic groups the Ikwerre and Obulom (Abuloma). The Abuloma people of Rivers State speak Obulom- Ochichi language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ibinabo Fiberesima</span> Nigerian actress and model

Ibinabo Fiberesima is a Nigerian film actress, ex-beauty pageant and event manager. She is a former president of the Actors Guild of Nigeria.

Collette Nwadike is a Nigerian model, beauty queen and Nollywood actress. She represented Nigeria in the Exquisite Face of the Universe Pageant in Sao Tome and emerged winner, becoming the first African to do so. In 2014 she was the winner of Miss Tourism Nigeria. One month after her victory on a courtesy visit, she was appointed S.A to the Governor of Anambra State Chief Willie Obiano. She is a representative of the Miss Tourism Nigeria brand.

Maryam Elisha is a Nigerian model, beauty queen, and fashion designer. She founded the Rikaoto by ME fashion brand in 2009, two years after being crowned Miss Valentine. Elisha was named one of the 20 most influential pageant personalities in Nigeria.

Kelechi Amadi-Obi is a Nigerian creative photographer, painter, artist and the publisher of Mania Magazine. His work in photography and visual art has earned him international renown featuring in many international exhibitions including Snap Judgment: New Position in contemporary African Photography, International center of photography New York (2006) He has been described as one of Nigeria's groundbreaking celebrity photographers who has "helped put Nigerian photography on the world map.". Vogue calls him "a major force in the creative scene in Nigeria."

Julie Coker is a Nigerian television presenter, producer and newsreader, now retired. One of the country's pioneer female broadcasters, Coker was a familiar face during the infancy of Nigerian television, most notably on The Bar Beach Show and her own series Julie's World. As a recording artist, she released three albums during the disco era, and has been sampled by contemporary musicians.

Federal Government Girls' College, Abuloma is a girls' secondary school in Abuloma, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, established in 1975.

Emem Inwang is a Nigerian actress and model. She was formerly Emem Udonquak. On October 18, 2014 she won the 2014 Nollywood Movies Awards for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in the movie Itoro. The event was held at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos.

Miss Universe Nigeria - abbreviated as MUN - is an annual national pageant held to select a Miss Universe delegate. 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 before crowning her successor, she had actually competed in MBGN 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Olamide Jasanya. "Celebrating Agbani Darego". Nigerian Entertainment Today. Archived from the original on January 24, 2016. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
  2. ↑ "National Geographic Magazine". National Geographic Society. 2002. p. 91. Archived from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
  3. ↑ Ogunbayo, Modupe (7 August 2011). "Newsliners". Newswatch . Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Agbani Darego graduates from New York University - Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games". Nigerian Entertainment Today - Nigeria's Top Website for News, Gossip, Comedy, Videos, Blogs, Events, Weddings, Nollywood, Celebs, Scoop and Games. 2012-05-16. Archived from the original on 2017-08-29. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  5. ↑ "BusinessDay Online, TV, and Podcast". Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  6. ↑ "FGGC Abuloma celebrates one of their own – Miss World 2001/Model Agbani Darego receives an award from her alma mater". Bella Naija. 26 January 2011. Archived from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
  7. ↑ I Wear What Fits Archived January 7, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ Glamour queens Archived January 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  9. ↑ "Anne Titilope now Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria". Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  10. ↑ "Agbani Darego Married, Husband, Children, Net Worth, Interesting Facts". BuzzNigeria - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News. 2015-10-21. Archived from the original on 2018-05-23. Retrieved 2018-05-23.
  11. ↑ Agbani Darego Becomes Arik’s Brand Ambassador Archived October 5, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ "Tomorrow, the world; Brainy Miss England gives lie to the old jokes. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  13. ↑ "Miss World 2001 recounts how she experienced the incidents in Nigeria" . Retrieved 2023-01-29.
  14. ↑ "Red-hot prize girls. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-30. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  15. ↑ Glitz, glam of Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 Archived December 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  16. ↑ "What Has Agbani Darego Been Up To Since Her Reign As Miss World And Who Is Her Husband?". answersafrica.com. Retrieved November 18, 2022.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss World
2001 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
2001		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.