The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria – often abbreviated as MBGN – was 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 like Daily Times lost their license to send delegates from rival contest Miss Nigeria to Miss World. As of 2005, the pageant produced multiple representatives, but the MBGN World recipient was considered the overall winner. Miss Universe Nigeria was reestablished in 2023, breaking away from MBGN and operating as an entirely different pageant. In 2024, Miss World Nigeria became a separate pageant in its own right, thus ending the MBGN competition.
The last MBGN titleholder was event planner Ada Eme, who represented Abia.Oluchi Madubuike Wins MBGN 2021Three Things to Know About MBGN 2021
History Former publisher Ben Murray-Bruce ventured into show business after his magazine Silverbird flopped. He took a loan of N200,000 from his father which he used to organise a number of concerts which saw artists like Shalamar and Kool and the Gang perform in Nigeria, after which he promoted a new pageant known as Miss Universe Nigeria in 1983 (Omololu Ojehomon was crowned winner but never competed in Miss Universe). Murray-Bruce's pageant only gained public attention after Miss Nigeria Universe metamorphosed into Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1986, and its first winner was model Lynda Chuba.
MBGN winners were expected to represent Nigeria at Miss World and, until 2004, Miss Universe. Chuba was the first Nigerian representative in twenty-three years of to compete after Edna Park in 1964, while the first MBGN winner at Miss World was English language student Omasan Buwa in 1987. As with most pageants, second-place winners are expected to replace the title-holder if they are unable to complete their reign; in MBGN this has only happened twice – biology student Regina Askia replaced Bianca Onoh after the latter resigned in 1989, while philosophy student Ann Suinner continued Agbani Darego's reign after the latter was crowned Miss World in 2001.
Winners traditionally adopt at least one platform (also known as 'pet project') during their reign – an issue which is of relevance to Nigeria. Once chosen, the winner (and occasionally other finalists) uses their status to address the public about their platform. The most popular was initially Sickle Cell Awareness, but others have included polio, child labour, education, and widow empowerment.
In 2007, Silverbird announced that the pageant would produce four more representatives apart from the winner. The original titles were Miss MBGN Universe (to represent at Miss Universe), MBGN Tourism (Miss Tourism International), and MBGN Ecowas (Miss Ecowas). The fifth title, MBGN Model, which allowed its holder to compete in modelling contests at international level, was briefly dropped and replaced with MBGN Ambassador, with its winner performing ceremonial duties in the country. In 2021, MBGN acquired the Miss Supranational franchise.
The differences between MBGN and Miss Nigeria have been compared with Miss USA and Miss America. While MBGN delegates compete at international level, Miss Nigeria winners no longer have this privilege. In 2010 Miss Nigeria was relaunched as a scholarship programme and its winners in recent years receive modelling contract as part of their prize.
In 2023, Silverbird announced a separate pageant Miss Universe Nigeria would select Nigeria's new Miss Universe representative, breaking away from MBGN.Silverbird Group Unveils Miss Nigeria Universe
Competition Screening exercises (also known as 'auditions') are held nationwide to select contestants, and successful contestants will be coached on etiquette and stage presence at the boot-camp before competing at the finale, where segments include interview and evening gown, and unlike Miss Nigeria, Swimwear. In the pageant's early days, contestants were allowed to wear one-pieces of their choice for the swimsuit competition. Identical bikinis are now used instead. In 2014, a talent competition was introduced as part of the preliminaries.MBGN Talent Show
In the mid-nineties, after Nigeria yet again failed to place at Miss Universe and Miss World, MBGN organisers placed height and weight restrictions on contestants, and judges were advised not to select the woman they found most attractive, but the contestant with a greater chance of winning at international pageants.
Due to the country's conservative standards, very few contestants competed in the early days of MBGN, and competitors from Northern Nigeria are still rare as its predominantly Muslim population frown on beauty pageants. Guy Murray-Bruce, who succeeded his brother as pageant director in 1992 told The Guardian: "Getting the girls to come and participate was hard, and we literally had to beg them to participate. But since (former Miss World) Agbani [Darego] won it in 2001, we don't beg anyone anymore."
MBGN focuses mainly on physical beauty unlike Miss Nigeria which is expected to promote inner beauty with a wholesome girl-next-door image – as a result its swimsuit competition was famously scrapped in 2010 but this feature remains popular at MBGN.
Prizes for the winner vary each year, but have always included cash; as of 2012, it stands at N3,000,000, and most winners have received cars.
Winners MBGN 1988, law student Bianca Onoh, was crowned Miss Africa in 1988, won the congeniality prize at Miss Charm 1988 held in Moscow, and won Miss Intercontinental in 1989, theatre arts graduate Sabina Umeh was the first Nigerian to win the personality prize at Miss World 1990, while Toyin Raji was the recipient in 1995 despite withdrawing from the pageant due to political protests. Prior to this, Raji had been named Miss Congeniality at Miss Universe 1995.
At least three MBGN winners have previously competed in 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 were Miss Nigeria 1993, Pharmacy graduate Janet Fateye, who had competed in MBGN 1992 as Kemi Fateye, and mass communications student Vien Tetsola who was named the "Millennium Queen" in 2000.
Many MBGN winners have pursued careers in entertainment, including Sabina Umeh, Regina Askia, Emma Komlosy, Celia Bissong, and Munachi Nwankwo. Lynda Chuba-Ikpeazu and Omasan Buwa have moved into politics, as has Bianca Onoh who became a presidential adviser, as well as an ambassador and Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UNWTO while Nike Oshinowo has worked in pageantry.
International crowns One Miss World winner: Agbani Darego (2001) One Miss Intercontinental winner: Bianca Onoh (1989) Two Miss Africa winners: Lynda Chuba (1987) Bianca Onoh (1989) Two Miss ECOWAS winners: May Ikeora (2003) Joy Ngozika Obasi (2009) Zirra Banu (2012)
Titleholders
1986-2005 YearMBGNState / Town Represented 1986 Lynda Chuba-IkpeazuMiss Africa 1987 Imo 1987 Omasan Tokunbo Buwa Warri 1988 Regina Imaobong Askia Usoro Akwa Ibom Bianca Odinaka Olivia OnohMiss Intercontinental 1989Miss Africa 1989 Abuja 1990 Sabina Ifeoma Umeh Niger 1991 Adenike Asabi Oshinowo Rivers 1992 Sandra Guenefred Petgrave Akwa Ibom 1993 Rihole Gbinigie Edo 1994 Susan Hart Lagos 1995 Toyin Enitan Raji Kogi 1996 Emma Aret Patricia Komlosy Bayelsa 1998 Chika Lilian ChikezieImo 1999 Angela Ukpoma Niger 2000 Matilda Nkechiye Kerry Rivers 2001 Anne Titilope Suinner Abuja Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite DaregoMiss World 2001 Rivers 2002 Chinenye Ivy Ochuba Anambra 2003 Cecilia Ohumotu Bissong Cross River 2004 Anita Queen Uwagbele Edo 2005 Omowunmi Akinnifesi Kwara
2006 colspan=7 YearWorldState UniverseStateTourismState 2006 Abiola Bashorun Lagos Vanessa Agun Edo Alex Tienepre oki Delta
2007-2019 colspan=11 YearWorldState UniverseStateTourismState ECOWASState ModelState 2007 Munachi Gail Theresa Nwankwo Imo Ebinabo Potts-Johnson Bayelsa Sakana Dikko Plateau Erica Ekundaye Edo Anire Afejuku Ogun 2008 Adaeze Stephanie Igwe Anambra Stephanie Oforka Taraba Ure Obowu Enugu Uchechi Ejiogu Nasarawa Sandra Idugboe Edo 2009 Glory Chukwu Nasarawa Sandra Otohwo Delta Diana Odiaka Lagos Joy Ngozika Obasi Rivers Ugochi Ogugbue Imo 2010 Afoma Fiona Amuzie Plateau Ngozi Odaloni Niger Nengi Warikoko Rivers Chinenye Obiora Ekiti Lynda Dunkwu Gombe 2011 Sylvia Nduka Taraba Sophie Gemal Bayelsa Obioma Isiwu Enugu Grace Ndam Lagos Jennifer Igwegbe Gombe 2012 Isabella Agbor Ojong Ayuk * Cross River Damiete Charles-Granville * River Ifeoma Umeokeke Abuja Okafor Nkechinyere Osun Joyce Chidebe Kaduna 2013 Anna Ebiere Banner Bayelsa Stephanie Okwu Imo Powede Lawrence Adamawa Enoma Agboniko Kaduna Melissa Devidal Abuja 2014 Iheoma Amanda Nnadi Akwa Ibom Queen Osem Celestine Edo Chinyere Adogu Kwara Endurance Akpoyiba Osun Princess Dennar Abuja 2015 Unoaku Temitope Anyadike Anambra Debbie Collins Ebonyi Chizoba Ejike Abuja Chikaodili Nna-Udosen Bauchi Cynthia Sapara Edo
Notes
2017-2019 colspan=9 YearWorldState UniverseStateTourismState ECOWASState 2017 Ugochi Mitchel Ihezue Kebbi Stephanie Agbasi Sokoto Winfrey Okolo Plateau Emmanuella Yaboh Oyo 2018 Anita Ukah Imo Aramide Oluwatobi Lopez Lagos Danielle Jatto Edo Valentina Ogbonaya Sokoto 2019 Nyekachi Esther Douglas Rivers Olutosin Itohan Araromi Taraba Pamela Ifejoku Abuja Akeelah Aminu Edo
2021-2022 colspan=11 YearWorldState UniverseState SupranationalState TourismState ECOWASState 2021 Oluchi Chioma Madubuike Abuja Maristella Chidiogo Okpala Anambra Adaeze Chineme Abia Odjugo Mercy Jessica Bayelsa Lydia Okojie Bauchi 2022 Ada Agwu Eme Abia Montana Onose Felix Edo Genevieve Ukatu Anambra Ifeoma Uzogheli Abuja Lydia Balogun Lagos
2024-present colspan=11 YearWorldState TourismState ECOWASState 2024 colspan=8
Other notable contestants
Chidinma Aaron, Miss Nigeria 2018 Lilian Bach , actressLilian Bach Turns 50 Kehinde Bankole, model and actress Damilola Bolarinde, TNQ 2022 Sylvia Edem, Miss Nigeria 2002 Janet Fateye , singer and Miss Nigeria 1993 Ibinabo Fiberesima, actress Nengi Hampson , reality TV personality and TNQ 2013 (b)MBGN 2017: Meet the Contestants May Ikeora, lawyer, Miss Ecowas 2003 and executive director, Miss Nigeria Alex Lopez, actress Erica Nlewedim, actress, model, and reality TV personality Chikaodili Nna-Udosen, TNQ 2020 Stephanie Okereke, actress Maristella Okpara, Miss Earth Nigeria 2018 Grace Oboba, actress/producerWhy I Dumped Modelling for Acting Ebinabo Potts-Johnson, model Gloria 'Giomanni' Ziregbe, singerI slept in a terminus the first time I came to Lagos –Gloria Ziregbe, former Miss Tourism Nigeria Patricia Osita Onumonu, model, fashion designer Vien Tetsola, pastor and Miss Nigeria 2000
Awards The awards most frequently presented at MBGN are Miss Photogenic, Miss Amity, and Best Traditional Costume.
From 2007 to 2012, soft drink marketers La Casera, in conjunction with MBGN, chose a contestant to be the face of their brand. The winner of the title, Miss La Casera, promoted their product and worked on various projects reaching out to society's less privileged. The Miss La Casera winner also received a car and N1,000,000.
Controversy