Entertainment
Top 10 Most Outstanding Beauty Queens In Nigeria
It’s a common knowledge
that the popularity of most beauty queens decline drastically shortly after their reigns. We have had so many beauty queens in Nigeria. Some of them married and relocated abroad to join their hubbies such as Chinenye Ochuba, Sabina Ume, Sylvia Edem, Regina Askia etc. for most of them, when they relocate, little or nothing is heard about them. Even most of those that settled here in Nigeria, seem to have gone into oblivion.
The proliferation of different categories of beauty pageants in Nigeria is not helping matter.
Every year we hear of such pageants as” MBGN,Miss Nigeria, Miss Bold & Beautiful, most Beautiful Face in Nigeria, Miss Aso Rock, Miss Teen, to mention just a few.
In as much as quite a number of exbeauty queens seem to have gone into obscurity, there are controversies that trailed their reigns. Age falsification scandal has always been a recurrent decimal in the Nigerian beauty pageantry.
In 1981, Miss Nigeria Tokunboh Onanuga was demoted after a flaw was discovered on her WAEC certificate. The West African body also states on their Twitter account, “Tokunbo Onanuga Miss Nigeria 1981 demoted for having fake WAEC results.”
In 2001, Ama Valerie Perterside, dethroned Miss Nigeria, lost her crown June 15 after a five-man panel found her guilty of falsifying her age and certificate. The fist runner-up Amina Ekpo took over the crown. Ama also falsified her education qualification in addition to reducing her age with 4 years, so as to meet up with the criteria for the pageant.
Isabella Ayuk MGBN 2012 was also involved in age falsification scandals. It become a lot more confusing when the organizers announced that 1st runner-up Diamette Charles will go for Miss world, while Ayuk goes to Miss Universe.
Iheoma Nnadi the current MBGN was recently enmeshed in age falsification scandal but she managed to wriggle out of it.
Here are the top 10 most popular / outstanding ex-beauty queens in Nigeria.
Anna Banner
She represented Beyelsa State and won the MBGN in 2013. She’s still relevant as she has gone into acting which would obviously help her to remain in the limelight.
Chinenye Ochuba-Akinlade
Chinenye won the MBGN in 2002 and she was among the top 10 finalists. Chinenye got married and relocated to London.
Munachi Abli
Muna won the MBGN in 2007. She’s currently trying to make a career in music as a rapper. She’s still relevant unlike some of her peers that got the crown after her.
Helen Prest Ajayi
Helen Prest Ajayi is one queen that is deeply loved by many Nigerians. She reigned as Miss Nigeria in 1979 with grace and composure. She represented Nigeria in various beauty pageants including the Miss World Pageant.
Helen is a graduate of Obafemi Awolowo University and also holds an LLB and LLM from the prestigious kings College London. She is the creative director of media business company and My ‘Life Time Solutions.Com’ she is happily married to Tosin Ajayi and they both have three children.
Helen never goes wrong with her fashion style and she still looks incredibly beautiful for a woman who recently clocked 54.
Matilda Kerry
Kerry was crowned the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2000 after which she represented Nigeria in the Miss World 2000. Kerry made leprosy her pet project as a beauty queen and she promoted awareness of the disease. Since the end of her reign, Dr Kerry has continued to use her public persona to promote health living and disease prevention in Nigeria.
Kerry is presently a medical doctor and the president of the George Kerry Life Foundation, a non governmental organisation that promotes cervical health campaign. Queens like Kerry only proves that Nigerian beauty queens are not just dumb beauties, they are also loaded with brains which make them complete.
Omowunmi Akinnifesi
Beauty, poise and brains won Omowunmi Akinnifesi the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria crown. She represented Nigeria in the Miss World beauty Pageant in China that same year. She didn’t stop there, she went on to win the Miss Tourism international in Ukraine. Omowunmi just keeps getting it right. This queen is a graduate of Geography and regional planning from the university of Lagos.
In 2009, she was appointed environmental ambassador by Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola. When it comes to style. Omowunmi never fails to dazzle. She is simply classy and fabulous. She runs her own public relations and ushering outfit “Elle Poise”.
Nike Osinowo
Nike Osinowo was crowned the most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1991. She represented Nigeria in the Miss World beauty pageant that same year. Nike is an entrepreneur.
She released her own work out video Nike Osmowo, fit, forty and fabulous. In 2010, after a six year attempt, Nike finally bought the Miss Nigeria franchise from former organizers daily times. Although it was later revoked. She’s currently running her TV show.
Regina Askia –Williams
Regina Askia took over from Bianca Onoh Ojukwu when she resigned halfway through her reign. She wore the crown of the most Beautiful Girl, Nigeria 1989. She proved herself a worthy beauty queen. Regina went on to become one of the pioneering actors in Nollywood.
She featured in many Nollywood movies, most times taking the lead roles. She has won several awards including the Best Actress, Nigeria in the year 2000 by Afro Hollywood London. She also has her own fashion label Regine Fashions.
Entertainment
Alliance Française Hosts “French Up Your Career” To Boost Bilingual Job Prospects
Port Harcourt is set to become a hub for bilingual career advancement as the Alliance Française hosts “French Up Your Career” on March 19, 2025. The seminar, is part of the French Language Week celebrations, will bring together students, educators, and professionals to explore how proficiency in French can enhance job opportunities and academic success.
As Nigeria’s National Policy on Education recognizes French as the country’s second official language, the demand for bilingual professionals is growing. To meet this need, the French Embassy in Nigeria launched the project Developing the Employability of Young People in Nigeria through Specialized French. This initiative aims to develop tailored language programs in universities and foster partnerships with businesses that value bilingualism.
Following a successful edition in Lagos last October, which gathered students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Ibadan, Lagos State University (LASU), and Badagry French Language Village, the event now arrives in Port Harcourt. This edition is expected to attract 150 participants, including students from universities, learners at Alliance Française Port Harcourt, and French teachers from Rivers State.
Marina Lacal, Director of Alliance Française Port Harcourt, emphasized the importance of the seminar in equipping young Nigerians with skills to stand out in the job market. “The ability to speak French is a powerful asset, especially in a country like Nigeria, which shares borders with several Francophone nations. This event will highlight the real-world value of bilingualism in business, diplomacy, and education.”
The seminar will feature a dynamic program, including panel discussions with professionals who use French in their careers, an inter-university eloquence competition, and an information booth offering insights on language certifications and study opportunities in France. Companies that promote the use of French among their employees will also present their policies, shedding light on how bilingualism enhances career prospects.
For over four decades, Alliance Française Port Harcourt has been at the forefront of French language promotion in Rivers State. As part of a global network spanning 135 countries, it offers French courses for individuals and businesses, as well as internationally recognized certifications such as DELF, DALF, TCF, and TEF. The institution also plays a crucial role in supporting schools and university language departments.
Campus France Nigeria, another key partner, will be present to provide guidance to students interested in higher education opportunities in France. As a service of the French Embassy, Campus France supports student mobility, manages scholarship programs, and connects Nigerian students with French universities.
The event will be graced by the presence of the Consul General of France, along with representatives from academia and the private sector, reinforcing the significance of bilingualism in Nigeria’s economic and educational landscape.
With growing global demand for multilingual professionals, “French Up Your Career” aims to inspire young Nigerians to harness their language skills for a competitive edge in the workforce.
For more information, interested participants can contact Alliance Française Port Harcourt at reception.phc@af-nigeria.org
Entertainment
International Women’s Rights Day: Alliance Française Port Harcourt Celebrates The ‘Badass’ Heroines

The Alliance Française, Port Harcourt on Monday presented An activity tagged “Badass” to mark the 2025 International Women’s Rights Day, with the theme “For All Women and Girls Rights, Equality and Empowerment.”
The event which was held at the Alliance Française main hall had no fewer than 83 children from three schools who participated in the exhibition which tell stories of 10 Modern Heroines.

A cross section of children that participated in the International women’s Rights Day Celebration at the Alliance Française, Port Harcourt.
According to the Director of the Alliance Française, Marina Lacal the event which started from March 8 to celebrate the International Women’s Rights Day would end this weekend.
She noted that the initiative highlighted the commitment of the Alliance Française to promoting gender equality, empowering women and encouraging young audiences to challenge stereotypes and reconsider the presentation of women in popular culture.
Mrs Lacal further explained that most of the comics hero (Ine)s stories depicted the male gender , such as the Superman, Spiderman and others. So the Alliance Française Port Harcourt thought it wise to came up with female related
Comics to celebrate the ‘Day.’
” We decided to put this together to enable the girl child relate with, a heroinic character that can inspire them as they make choices and decisions in life,” she added.
The Tide News reports that the word ‘Badass’
is referred to independent free- spirited characters who are not afraid to take risks, fail or ask for help in course of reaching their goals. They are bold, intelligent, independent, brave and determined to shape their destinies.
The exhibition which was a celebration of Strong Heroines, was inspired by the Hero(Ine)s project by the Lyon BD Festival and paid tribute to ten iconic female comic book characters that defied traditional stereotypes.
Through their stories, they inspired younger generations and showcased the diverse journeys of women.Objectives of the Exhibition Highlighted the evolution of female characters in comic books.Encouraged critical thinking among young audiences about gender equality and representation.while it created a platform for discussion on women’s rights, empowerment, and education.
Meanwhile, the event witnessed 83 children from six schools—Hopespring Foundation School, Cornerstone International School, Avidminds International School, Virgo Praedicanda International School, Pleroma International School, and Vine International School—participated in guided tours.
These tours included discussions on comics, gender equality, and the importance of strong female role models.During the tours, students also expanded their French vocabulary, learning adjectives to describe the heroines featured in the exhibition: Courageuse – Courageous, Ambitieuse – Ambitious, Empathique – Empathetic, Curieuse – Curious, Intelligente – Intelligent, Déterminée – Determined.
The climax of the event was the part where the , children had the opportunity to draw their own superheroine and choose their favorite French adjective to describe her. The drawings were added to an exhibition board, extending the exhibition’s reach.
Entertainment
Valentine’s Day: Streaming Of Heartbreak Songs Increased Massively-Spotify
Spotify yesterday revealed a significant surge in heartbreak song streams in Nigeria during the Valentine’s Day season, with a 626 percent increase between 2022 and 2024.
This was disclosed in a statement issued in Lagos, Nigeria by Spotify’s Head of Music, Sub-Saharan Africa Phiona Okumu.
Okumu said, “Spotify data reveals a surprising trend, a massive surge in heartbreak song streams.
“Nigerians are turning to their playlists to express their emotions, with a staggering 626 per cent overall growth in heartbreak streams from 2022 to 2024.
“This Valentine, the sound of love is accompanied by the sound of heartbreak, and the data shows it’s louder than ever before.”
She said on Valentine’s Day, most surprisingly, male listeners streamed heartbreak songs at a significantly higher rate than female listeners, with a 362 per cent increase compared to 169 per cent among women.
“This could suggest that men resonate with the feeling of heartbreak more and turn to music as a private outlet for processing emotions.
“Whatever the reason, one thing is clear, when love is in the air, so is heartbreak and Nigerian men are pressing play on their pain more than expected.
“While Valentine’s Day is often celebrated with grand gestures, heartbreak is a common theme on Valentine’s Day -more than what’s publicly shown,” she said.
Nigerians will join their counterparts across the world to mark the 2025 Valentine’s today.
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