“The New Miss Nigeria pageant will have no swim wear segment. We are not looking for Fashion models (Tall & Skinny), our young ladies would be judged on poise, intelligence, cultural values as well as beauty. Qualities that every family would be proud to see their daughters, sisters and mothers possess,” Chief Nike Oshinowo-Soleye, the Chief Executive & Creative Director, Miss Nigeria said.
The decision, she said, is to have a pageant that passes morals and extols the virtues of womanhood.
“We at the new Miss Nigeria office, wish to emulate other secular countries around the world (such as Indonesia, Singapore, Egypt, Jordan, Algeria, Lebanon, Turkey, Georgia, Kazakhstan) who all hold pageants in a credible and decent manner,” she said, adding that “countries such as Indonesia with the largest Islamic population in the world who take part in international beauty pageants, or Cyprus and Ethiopia with large populations of conservative Christians who take part in beauty pageants try and balance modern liberties with traditional values” she told journalists in Lagos.
She noted that Miss Nigeria historically has been a role model to the Nigerian society at large and a spokesperson for charities, while using her title to educate millions of Nigerians on issues of importance to herself and the society.
Oshinowo-Soleye added that in years past, pageantry was a family affair, and promised to bring back the family friendly pageant, reminiscent of a time when opportunity came with responsibility, and womanhood was held in the highest regard.
This year’s winner, she said, will win a full scholarship to be educated in any institute of higher learning of her choice, anywhere in the world; a luxury car, one year’s salary and accommodation in Lagos, a year’s wardrobe from leading Nigerian designers, as well as gifts from sponsors.
The winner of the pageant will spend her year in office working for the Miss Nigeria Foundation. She will also work with federal and state governments’ ministries of culture, tourism, health and women affairs. In addition, she will also work on special projects on behalf of international NGOs like the World Health Organisation and UNESCO.
Call for entries into the pageant is expected to last between June and July, with zonal castings in five Nigerian cities, New York and London between July and August. The finale comes up on September 25 in Abuja, where the new queen will be crowned.
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