The Nigerian Queen
The Nigerian Queen – also abbreviated as TNQ – is an annual Nigerian pageant which aims to find and promote exceptional young ladies with value and virtues positively affecting her generation and environment whilst having strong interest in humanitarian services. Formerly known as Queen of Trust, TNQ is organised by 001 Entertainment.[1]
Motto | Beauty for Purpose |
---|---|
Formation | 2009 |
Type | Beauty pageant |
Headquarters | Port Harcourt |
Location | |
Membership | Miss Globe International |
Official language | English |
President | Kelvin Joseph Amroma |
Key people | Onyeka Agu (Deputy national director) |
Parent organization | 001 Entertainment |
Website | nigerianqueen |
The current title holder is Economics graduate Chikaodili Nna-Udosen who represented Akwa Ibom, and her platform is Climate Change.[2]
History
001 Entertainment president, Kelvin Joseph Amroma, established Queen of Trust in 2009, with the first edition held in Port Harcourt. Winners adopt a platform (known in Nigerian pageantry as 'pet project') during their reign – an issue affecting Nigeria. Once chosen, the winner uses her status to address the public regarding her platform. In 2015, halfway through the winner's reign, Queen of Trust was renamed The Nigerian Queen, with 2014's titleholder Onyeka Agu named deputy national director.[3] In 2020, for the first time in the pageant's 11-year history, the TNQ final was held in Lagos instead of Port Harcourt.[4]
Competition
As with most major Nigerian pageants, TNQ comprises various segments including local costume, evening gown, and interview. Although contestant pose for publicity photos in identical bikinis, swimwear does not count towards the final score. Preliminaries are held before the grand final, and both fashion and talent shows are included. Prior to 2016, contestants wore their first names on their sashes to reflect their individual personalities, but each girl now represents a state, with more than one contestant occasionally acting as state delegate. Unlike other pageants with strict rules regarding vital statistics, plus-sized girls are allowed to compete, most notably Uyime Stephen (Miss Taraba) who reached the 2020 grand final. The most consistent awards are Best Dinner Gown, Best Local Costume (formerly Best Traditional Attire), Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic, Most Talented, Top Model, and Nigerian Queen Multimedia. Other awards have included Miss Sportswoman and Miss Amity.
Prizes for the winner and runners-up vary each year; as of 2018 the winner receives a Hyundai car, 700 square metres of land, and ₦1,000,000 plus a trip of Dubai.[5] According to the pageant's president Kelvin Joseph Amroma, during TNQ's first edition, the star prize was a television.[3]
Title holders
Year | Title Holder | State represented/other | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2009 | Preye Inokoba | ||
2010 | Esthermary Akpu | ||
2011 | Princess Nwafor | ||
2012 | Joy Ogiator Omoalukhe | N/A | |
2013 | Regina Rapheal Ushene Dethroned |
N/A | |
2013 | Rebecca Nengi Hampson[6] Replaced Ushene |
Bayelsa State | Competed in Big Brother Naija |
2014 | Onyeka Maryann Agu | N/A | Now TNQ's deputy national director |
2015 a | Cynthia Chidinma Ugbah Resigned |
N/A | |
2015 b | Tender Chimelu Replaced Ugbah[7] |
N/A | |
2016 | Winifred Uduimoh[8] | Abuja | |
2017 | Sandra Essien[9] | Akwa Ibom | |
2018 | Racheal Anume[10] | Ondo | |
2019 | Ezinne Elizabeth Umeh[11] | Imo | |
2020 | Chikaodili Nna-Udosen[12] | Akwa Ibom | |
Scandal
In 2016, Cynthia Ugbah resigned from her position as reigning TNQ after accusing organisers 001 Entertainment of sexual harassment.[13] In a statement Ugbah stated "They wanted me to sleep with men for money and then given the money to them to better their own organisation. Apparently that's how it works. They are rogues, thieves, fake, and most of all broke, they need pretty girls to fetch them money." However, the organisation argued these were false claims, and Ugbah had been dethroned due to gross misconduct.[14]
References
- 16 Finalists for Nigerian Queen Grand Finale
- I Competed in Five Pageants Before Winning The Nigerian Queen
- Queen of Nigeria Pageant President Rubbishes Tale of Forcing Girls into Prostitution
- Chikaodili Emerges Winner
- Nigerian Queen celebrates Ten Years
- Jolayemi, Moyinoluwa (2020-09-28). "Rebecca "Nengi" Hampson bio: Interesting facts about the BBNaija 2020 contestant". Legit.ng - Nigeria news. Retrieved 2021-02-04.
- AllWhite Party to Celebrate the Current Queen Tender
- Winifred Udimoh Winner of The Nigerian Queen
- Noradence. "The winner of the Nigerian Queen 2017 beauty pageant is Sandra Essien!". MODELSGISTAFRICA. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
- "Amune Racheal beat over 50contestants to win Nigerian queen 2018 Crown (Photos)". Models Naija. 2018-06-12. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
- I Rinse Myself Of Toxic People
- "Chikaodili Nna-Udosen Emerges 2020 The Nigerian Queen 2020". tribuneonlineng.com. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
- "Beauty Queen resigns over alleged sexual harassment". Pulse Nigeria. 2016-01-14. Retrieved 2021-02-05.
- Beauty Queen Resigns over Sexual Harassment