Danielle Adewusi of Lagos State has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 after defeating 19 other contestants at the grand finale held in Lagos on Sunday, September 27.
The grand finale took place at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, bringing weeks of pageant activities to a close.
Adewusi emerged from a field of 20 contestants after competing in various stages, including advocacy presentations, talent showcases, cultural displays, runway performances and other challenges designed to test the contestants’ confidence, communication skills and stage presence.
The Lagos representative eventually secured the crown after the final question-and-answer segment, one of the decisive stages of the competition.
According to Silverbird, the organisation behind Miss Universe Nigeria, Adewusi stood out during the competition for her confidence, intelligence, elegance and commitment to social impact.
She was crowned by Guy Murray-Bruce, President of the Silverbird Group and National Director of Miss Universe Nigeria.
The final five contestants were representatives of Lagos, Edo, Cross River, Ekiti and Delta states.
Anita Osikhena of Edo State finished as first runner-up, while Myya Jones of Cross River State emerged as second runner-up. Oluwafunmibi Ajaja of Ekiti State took the third runner-up position, while Melissa Toghanro of Delta State finished as fourth runner-up.
The final results were:
Danielle Adewusi — Winner, Lagos State
Anita Osikhena — First Runner-up, Edo State
Myya Jones — Second Runner-up, Cross River State
Oluwafunmibi Ajaja — Third Runner-up, Ekiti State
Melissa Toghanro — Fourth Runner-up, Delta State
Cross River’s Myya Jones also secured an automatic spot in the Top Five after receiving the highest number of votes in the fast-track voting category.
Beyond the crown, Adewusi’s advocacy work is expected to form a major part of her reign. She is the founder of “Scrub the Stigma,” an initiative focused on women’s health, raising awareness and challenging stigma surrounding access to healthcare.
Her medical background has also attracted attention. According to PUNCH, Adewusi studied Medicine at King’s College London, where she obtained an MBBS and a first-class Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. Her interest in women’s health advocacy was influenced in part by her experience during medical training, including an Obstetrics and Gynaecology rotation.
Adewusi is not new to pageantry. She previously competed in the Miss Universe Great Britain competition in 2023, where she finished among the top five finalists.
Meanwhile, Osikhena also received multiple recognitions during the Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 finale. In addition to finishing as first runner-up, she won the Pitch Your Dream Competition and received ₦1 million from Yolo Island, along with a two-night all-expenses-paid stay at Yolo Island Beach Resort.
She also won the Best Advocacy Project award, receiving ₦500,000 and a one-year supply of Golden Penny products.
Other special award winners included Miss Akwa Ibom, who was named Most Photogenic; Miss Ekiti, who won Miss Amity; and Miss Edo, who received the Best Evening Dress award. Miss Oyo won Top Model, Miss Osun won Best National Costume, while Miss Ogun emerged as Best Talent.
Delta State representative Melissa Toghanro, who finished fourth runner-up, was also selected to represent Nigeria at Miss Supranational.
Following her victory, Adewusi will now represent Nigeria at the international Miss Universe competition. Silverbird said she is scheduled to represent the country at the 75th Miss Universe Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 24, 2026.
Her international campaign is expected to include her “Scrub the Stigma” women’s health advocacy initiative as she takes her new role beyond Nigeria.
Adewusi’s victory marks another chapter in her pageantry journey, while placing her in the spotlight as Nigeria’s representative on the international Miss Universe stage.
