On November 16, 2001, Agbani Darego became the first black African to win the prestigious Miss World title at the age of 18.
Agbani, with her slender figure, challenged beauty standards and influenced the Nigerian perception of beauty.
Her victory sparked a cultural shift in Nigeria, where many women idolized her looks and “Agbani” became a term associated with slender beauty.
Agbani's victory was a proud moment for the African continent and resonated in Nigeria as she became the first winner of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant to become Miss World.
This victory encouraged more Nigerian parents to encourage their daughters to pursue careers in the world of beauty pageants and modelling, which were previously viewed with skepticism.
South Africa News 24 reported that Agbani, a native of Rivers State, received $100,000 in cash and $150,000 in gifts from Miss World organisers, cementing her status as a national icon.
The 2001 publication also made reference to the then Rivers State Governor, Peter Odili, in a statement to National Interest Newspapers, describing Agbani's achievement as “an expression of the natural endowment and noble qualities of the Nigerian woman.”
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Following her victory in 2001, Agbani was given the honorary title of Chief of the Lagos Council of Chiefs. At the time, she was one of the youngest female chiefs in Nigeria.
Historical competition
After her historic victory at Miss World, Agbani Darego said: “Black is beautiful.” These words, published by Frontline World newspaper, became a defining statement of her triumph.
The 51st edition of the contest, held at the Super Bowl in Sun City, South Africa, featured an impressive line-up of contestants from several countries.
In the early 2000s, Miss World introduced some major innovations. According to Frontline World, for the first time viewers were able to vote for their favourite contestants by telephone. This edition also set a record with 93 contestants, making it one of the most competitive pageants in history. Organizers expected more than a billion viewers around the world to tune in to the contest, the BBC reported.
Miss Nigeria, Agbani, made it to the Top 5 and stood out alongside Miss Aruba, Miss Scotland, Miss China and Miss Nicaragua. The Top 10 included strong contenders such as Miss Russia, Miss South Africa, Miss Spain, Miss Ukraine and Miss Yugoslavia.
In a YouTube video obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, which was posted by Carlos (a channel related to the pageant), it was revealed that the questions for the finalists were collected from audiences around the world during the competition.
Agbani's question, in the video posted by host Jerry Springer and sent by an Indian interlocutor, was: “In this man's world, what do you think you can change that a man can't?”
She replied, “First and foremost, I participated in the Miss World pageant because I know that it is a very charitable organization. In this man’s world, if there is anything I can do, it is to help the less privileged in society. I want to offer as much help as I can. I love helping those in need and my deep love for humanity motivates me to be the best I can and help those in need.”
Following the Q&A session, the winners were announced in reverse order. As the five finalist contestants stood backstage, Miss Aruba and Miss Scotland were named first and second runners-up respectively, leading to Agbani's crowning moment.
In another video shared by YouTuber Carlos, Darego's victory was shown to be full of suspense as she stood alongside Miss China and Miss Nicaragua, anxiously awaiting the announcement of the winner.
When her name was called, she smiled with her eyes closed, visibly surprised and overjoyed. She put her hands on her chest, as if she couldn't believe it. The Miss Nigeria sash was taken from her and replaced with the Miss World sash.
Dressed in a green dress symbolising Nigeria’s national colours, Agbani, 18, walked onto the stage, greeted by cheers from the audience. She was hugged by the outgoing Miss World, Priyanka Chopra, before receiving her crown. Sitting briefly on the crown chair, the crown sparkled on her head as she stood up for a final walk, waving to the applauding crowd. Her fellow contestants warmly congratulated her as she sat on a throne-like golden chair.
Impact
Following his victory that weekend, the media celebrated the historic achievement and the online voting of Nigerians played a crucial role in his victory. This moment showed the power of unity and the pride Nigerians felt in seeing one of their own making history.
PREMIUM TIMES' checks on reactions to the Miss World 2001 pageant, as reflected in YouTube and Facebook videos posted years later, revealed how deeply Nigerians appreciated that historic moment.
Spectators shared their experiences and the widespread jubilation that erupted locally and in various parts of the country that year.
After the contest, the beauty queen recounted in a 2001 BBC blog post that when she looked in the mirror she saw a young woman who aspired to be a computer scientist and supermodel.
In her published statement, she read: “I am so happy. It is a wonderful and indescribable feeling. At home, I know everyone was looking out for me and I am happy to have made them proud.”
Beyond national pride, young Agbani's victory proved that African women could compete (and win) on the world stage, challenging stereotypes and opening doors for many young women across the continent.
Post Miss World
Before winning the MBGN title, she auditioned for M-Net's Face of Africa competition and did not make it to the finals. Before winning bigger titles, Darego, in a 2023 interview with AntoSays, stated that her father had reservations about her modelling career.
Following her victory at Miss World, Agbani became an international sensation.
She has worked with major brands such as L'Oréal and Dior and has appeared on the covers of major magazines.
Her impact extended beyond the pageant stage, establishing her as a global icon. She has judged numerous beauty and modelling pageants including Miss World 2014, Miss England 2002, Mr Scotland 2002 and Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 and 2014.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that in April 2017, Darego married Ishaya Danjuma, son of billionaire General Theophilus Danjuma, in a private ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco. The couple welcomed their first child in 2018 and their second in 2020.
Agbani's victory at Miss World remains historic, especially for Nigeria and Africa.
At 18, she symbolized progress and cultural disruption, showing the world that “black is beautiful.” Even at 41, her legacy inspires young women across Africa and motivates aspiring beauty queens and models.
You can watch his highlight here.