The Nigerian Queen

The Nigerian Queen – abbreviated as TNQ and formerly also known as Miss Grand Nigeria – is an annual Nigerian beauty pageant. Formerly known as Queen of Trust, TNQ is organised by 001 Entertainment. Since 2021, TNQ representatives have competed at Miss Grand International.

The current titleholder is fashion model and former finalist at both MBGN and Miss Nigeria Damilola Bolarinde, who represented Lagos.

History

001 Entertainment president, Kelvin Joseph Amroma, established Queen of Trust in 2009, with the first edition held in Port Harcourt. Winners adopt a platform (Known in Nigerian pageants as 'pet project') during their reign – an issue of interest affecting society, and once chosen, they use their status to address the public regarding their platform. In 2015, halfway through the winner's reign, Queen of Trust was renamed The Nigerian Queen, with 2014's titleholder Onyeka Agu named deputy national director. In 2020, for the first time in the pageant's 11-year history, the TNQ final was held in Lagos instead of Port Harcourt.

Competition As with most major Nigerian pageants, TNQ comprises various segments including local costume, evening gown, and interview. Preliminaries are held before the grand final, and both fashion and talent shows are included. Prior to 2016, contestants wore their first names on their sashes to reflect their individual personalities (Between 2013 and 2014, famous football player names were used), but each girl now represents a state, with more than one contestant occasionally acting as state delegate. Unlike other pageants with strict rules regarding vital statistics, plus-sized have also competed.

The most consistent awards at the TNQ finale are Best Dinner Gown, Best Local Costume (formerly Best Traditional Attire), Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic, Most Talented, Top Model, and Nigerian Queen Multimedia. Other awards have included Miss Sportswoman and Miss Amity.

Prizes for the winner and runners-up vary each year; as of 2018 the winner receives a Hyundai car, 700 square metres of land, ₦1,000,000, and a trip to Dubai. According to the pageant's president Kelvin Joseph Amroma, during TNQ's first edition, the star prize was a television.

Titleholders Early era: Queen of Trust YearQueen of Trust(Queen of Trust International)Runner-UpNotes Queen of TrustAfrica Miss Queen of TrustNigeria Queen of TrustSuper Model Queen of TrustTop Model 2009 Preye Inokoba Inokoba was later TNQ director (Queen Mother) 2010 Esthermary Chidinma Akpu 2011 Princess Nkechinyere Nwafor 2012 Joy Ogiator Omoalukhe 2013 Regina Rapheal UsheneSamantha UbaniRebecca Nengi HampsonEdikan Precious Udonyah Hampson replaced Ushene as TNQ. Later competed in Big Brother Naija 2014 Christabel Ijeoma IwualaOnyeka Maryann AguLizzy Ozoadibe Agu replaced Iwuala as TNQ. Later became TNQ deputy national director2015 Cynthia Chidinma UgbahTender ChimeluChristy IhentugeTamara RobertJasmine Uwemedimoh Chimelu replaced Ugbah as TNQ

Current era: The Nigerian Queen YearThe Nigerian QueenRunner-UpTop ModelNotes 1st Runner-Up 2nd Runner-Up 3rd Runner Up 2016 Winifred UduimohAbujaLucia Adamma UdohPrecious ElemuwaMomoh MamunatDenner Esther Onyedikachi 2017 Sandra EssienPrecious MarcusLilian RobinsonPatience ngeriboFuluife Nkechi 2018 Rachel Anume Ondo (G)Jessica EchenduFiona DaviesEzinne Offiahrowspan=4 2019 Ezinne Elizabeth Umeh ImoQueen Uju Joy LagosAda Joy Agwu Eme Lagosrowspan=4 2020 Chikaodili Enobong Nna-UdosenUgoaru Onuoha ImoMercy Babjide Ekiti First TNQ winner at Miss Grand International2021Abimbola Islamiat Rita Abayomi LagosQueen Joy Omanibe AdamawaPatience Chenema Christopher KogiPatience Christopher (2nd runner-up) representedNigeria at Miss Grand International2022Damilola Bolarinde LagosNnena OdumMavis Chizoba Aruma YobeDamilola Bolarinde Lagos

Notes

Winners by State

State Titles Winning years Lagos22021, 20222017, 2020 Imo1 2019 Ondo (G)2018Abuja2016Unknown72009 – 2015

Other notable contestants Ada Eme - MBGN 2022

TNQ International Representatives Color keys

Miss Grand International After 001 Entertainment acquired the rights to send delegates to Miss Grand International, Chikaodili Nna-Udosen became TNQ's first Miss Grand representative in 2020. The following year, TNQ runner-up Patience Christopher became the first Nigerian to place at the international pageant.

YearRepresentative's NameStateTitlePlacementNote 2022Damilola Bolarinde LagosThe Nigerian Queen 2022Top 20Top 8 – Best in National CostumeTop 20 – Best in SwimsuitTop 20 – Pre-arrival 2021Patience Chenema Christopher Kogi2nd Runner-Up of The Nigerian Queen 2021Top 20Top 20 – Best in National CostumeAbimbola Islamiat Rita Abayomi LagosThe Nigerian Queen 2021 colspan="2" 2020Chikaodili Enobong Nna-UdosenThe Nigerian Queen 2020 UnplacedTop 15 – Bare Face in 2.30 minutes challenge

Miss Eco International In 2021, TNQ acquired the right to send representatives to Miss Eco International. Queen Joy Omanibe, who had placed second runner-up in TNQ, became the first Nigerian to place at the international pageant. YearRepresentative's NameStateTitlePlacementNote 2022Queen Joy Omanibe Adamawa1st runner-up of The Nigerian Queen 2021 Top 10

Scandal In 2016, Cynthia Ugbah resigned from her position as reigning TNQ after accusing organisers 001 Entertainment of procuring. In a statement Ugbah claimed "They wanted me to sleep with men for money and then give the money to them to better their own organisation. Apparently that's how it works. They are rogues, thieves, fake, and most of all broke, they need pretty girls to fetch them money." However, the organisation argued these were false claims, and Ugbah had been dethroned due to gross misconduct.

The Nigerian Queen

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