Miss Universe Nigeria Expands Scope to Include Married and Divorced Women in Its Second Edition
The Silverbird Group has announced detailed plans for the second edition of the Miss Universe Nigeria beauty pageant, set to take place later this month.
Guy Murray-Bruce, National Director and President of the Silverbird Group, highlighted that the organization, which has run the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant for over 30 years, is excited to present the next edition of Miss Universe Nigeria. The grand finale is scheduled to be held in Lagos.
Murray-Bruce outlined that participants will stay at the Festival Hotel in Festac Town, Lagos, for intense rehearsals and training. He noted, “This is the second edition of Miss Universe Nigeria, but it marks our 38th beauty pageant since 1986.”
Breaking from traditional pageant norms, which often have strict rules regarding age and body type, Miss Universe Nigeria is embracing a more inclusive approach. “We now accept married, single, and divorced women. Our reigning Miss Universe Nigeria, Mrs. Ugochi Ihezue Nwachukwu, is married, and we take great pride in her,” Murray-Bruce said.
Previously, the pageant only accepted women aged 18 to 28, but it is now open to women 18 and older, regardless of height or weight. “Our criteria are based on how well a contestant presents herself for her age. We are excited to have our first married queen in the history of Nigerian beauty pageants,” he added.
This year’s competition features 25 delegates, including Chidimma Adetshina, a 2024 Miss South Africa finalist who withdrew after facing criticism for her Nigerian roots. The winner will receive ₦10 million and other prizes, reinforcing the pageant’s commitment to women’s empowerment. The Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 winner will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this November, while the runner-up will have the chance to compete in the Miss Supranational pageant.
Outgoing queen Ugochi Ihezue Nwachukwu expressed her enthusiasm for crowning the new Miss Universe Nigeria and announced a partnership with the pageant team to provide sponsorships for high-performing contestants, further supporting their journey.
Brand Manager Mr. Arthur Ngwube introduced this year’s theme, “Digital Divas,” emphasizing the growing role of digital presence and social media. The 2024 edition will feature sponsors like Lush Hair, Checkers Custard, Henkel (Go2B Styling Glue), Nutrify, and Enchanteur Fragrance, who will add elegance and support throughout the event.
