Danielle Adewusi has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 after emerging winner from a field of twenty contestants at the grand finale held on Sunday at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Representing Lagos State, Adewusi defeated nineteen other contestants to clinch the crown after impressing judges during the final question and answer segment. Organisers, Silverbird Group, said she stood out for her confidence, intelligence, elegance and commitment to social impact. She was crowned by the President of Silverbird Group and National Director of Miss Universe Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce.
Anita Osikhena of Edo State finished as first runner up, while Myya Jones of Cross River emerged second runner up. Oluwafunmibi Ajaja of Ekiti was third runner up and Melissa Toghanro of Delta finished as fourth runner up. The remaining Top 10 were Benedicta Iferike of Abuja, Chidinma Oluku of Abia, Precious Chinah of Rivers, Eno Idungafa of Akwa Ibom and Edidiong Udoidua of Ebonyi.
Myya Jones secured an automatic spot in the Top Five after winning the public fast track vote, while Melissa Toghanro will go on to represent Nigeria at Miss Supranational.
Adewusi is a medical doctor who trained at King’s College London where she earned an MBBS alongside a first class BSc in Psychology and is founder of the women’s health initiative Scrub The Stigma. She is the daughter of Tonia Okogbenin who represented Nigeria at Miss Universe 1991 and previously placed in the Top Five at Miss Universe Great Britain 2023. She will now represent Nigeria at the seventy fifth Miss Universe pageant scheduled for November in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
In the special awards category, Anita Osikhena won the Pitch Your Dream competition which came with one million naira and a resort stay as well as Best Advocacy Project and Best Evening Dress. Akwa Ibom won Most Photogenic, Ekiti won Miss Amity, Oyo was named Top Model, Osun won Best National Costume and Ogun won Best Talent.
Leave a comment