Agbani Darego
Encyclopedia
Agbani Darego is a Nigeria
n model, best known as the first Sub-Saharan African Miss World
.
, Rivers
, and was born into a family of eight children. At ten, Darego was sent to boarding school
in a bid to shield her from her mother who had breast cancer
. Darego's mother died two years later, and her daughter has spoken of how the loss prepared her for the future. As a teenager, Darego longed to be a model, and despite her conservative father's wishes, she auditioned for the M-Net Face of Africa modelling competition, but was not chosen as a finalist. As a model, Darego appeared in print adverts for boutique chain Collectables.
in 2001. Contrary to popular belief, Darego did not replace Valerie Peterside after the latter was dethroned - Peterside had won Miss Nigeria
. Darego managed to divide her time between her official duties with her education at the University of Port Harcourt
where she was studying Computer Science, and she represented Nigeria
in the 2001 Miss Universe
competition, held in Bayamón
, Puerto Rico
. She placed among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh. She was the only black semi-finalist that year - and the only finalist to wear a maillot
swimsuit.
, beating Miss Scotland and Miss Aruba in the final round. Her victory in the pageant was widely welcomed in her home country, and her one year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant.
Darego was honoured as an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) after her win as Miss World in 2001. The Nigerian National honours are awarded to Nigerians whom have rendered services to the benefit of the nation.
at the New York University
. She was once signed to Next Model Management,but is currently signed to Ford Models in New York. In 2002-2004 she was a spokesperson for L'Oréal
cosmetics., and is now promoting Arik Airlines.
In 2006, Darego participated in Catwalk the World - Fashion for Food, a global campaign organised by the United Nations World Food Programme which included a fashion show. A photograph which showed her topless during her runway walk was printed in Nigerian newspapers and caused national outrage, with members of the public accusing her of "debasing womanhood and serving as a bad role model to young women" Darego denies that the photograph was intentional. She told an interviewer in 2011: "My body is not for sale, so I can’t pose nude for any amount. I remember the topless pose you are talking about. That question has always been asked me and my answer is the same. It wasn’t perfect. It was just a dress malfunction and that’s what it was...I would never deliberately put myself in such an awkward position."
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n model, best known as the first Sub-Saharan African Miss World
Miss World 2001
Miss World 2001, the 51st Miss World pageant was held at the Super Bowl, in Sun City Entertainment Centre, Sun City, South Africa on November 16, 2001. Agbani Darego from Nigeria won the pageant, she became the first black African to win the Miss World crown...
.
Early life
Darego hails from AbonnemaAbonnema
Abonnema is a was founded in 1882. It was discovered by an expedition of a host of chiefs from the Kalabari town . These include Chief Young Briggs in Nigeria...
, Rivers
Rivers State
Rivers State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria. Its capital is Port Harcourt. It is bounded on the South by the Atlantic Ocean, to the North by Imo, Abia and Anambra States, to the East by Akwa Ibom State and to the West by Bayelsa and Delta states...
, and was born into a family of eight children. At ten, Darego was sent to boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
in a bid to shield her from her mother who had breast cancer
Breast cancer
Breast cancer is cancer originating from breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk. Cancers originating from ducts are known as ductal carcinomas; those originating from lobules are known as lobular carcinomas...
. Darego's mother died two years later, and her daughter has spoken of how the loss prepared her for the future. As a teenager, Darego longed to be a model, and despite her conservative father's wishes, she auditioned for the M-Net Face of Africa modelling competition, but was not chosen as a finalist. As a model, Darego appeared in print adverts for boutique chain Collectables.
Miss Universe
Darego achieved greater success when she won Most Beautiful Girl in NigeriaMost Beautiful Girl in Nigeria
The Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant originally began as Miss Universe Nigeria in 1983, and was created by Silverbird Group. It was later re-named Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 1986. Winners represent Nigeria in Miss World and, until recently, Miss Universe – currently, only the...
in 2001. Contrary to popular belief, Darego did not replace Valerie Peterside after the latter was dethroned - Peterside had won Miss Nigeria
Miss Nigeria
Miss Nigeria is a pageant show used to showcase positive attributes of Nigerian women. Before 1986, winners represented Nigeria at international pageants including Miss World; this role is now performed by Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, while Miss Nigeria winners are ambassadors of Nigerian...
. Darego managed to divide her time between her official duties with her education at the University of Port Harcourt
University of Port Harcourt
The University of Port Harcourt is a university in the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt. It was established in 1975 as University College, Port Harcourt, and was given university status in 1977.-Faculties:...
where she was studying Computer Science, and she represented Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in the 2001 Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
competition, held in Bayamón
Bayamón, Puerto Rico
Bayamón is a municipality of Puerto Rico located on the northern coastal valley, north of Aguas Buenas and Comerío; south of Toa Baja and Cataño; west of Guaynabo; and east of Toa Alta and Naranjito. Bayamón is spread over 11 wards and Bayamón Pueblo...
, Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. She placed among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh. She was the only black semi-finalist that year - and the only finalist to wear a maillot
Maillot
The maillot is the fashion designer's name for a woman's one-piece swimsuit, also called a tank suit. A maillot swimsuit generally consists of a tank-style torso top with high-cut legs...
swimsuit.
Miss World 2001
In November 2001, Darego was crowned Miss WorldMiss World
The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant. It was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951...
, beating Miss Scotland and Miss Aruba in the final round. Her victory in the pageant was widely welcomed in her home country, and her one year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant.
Darego was honoured as an Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) after her win as Miss World in 2001. The Nigerian National honours are awarded to Nigerians whom have rendered services to the benefit of the nation.
Post Miss World
Due to her busy work schedule, Darego left the University of Port Harcourt after she won Miss World, and is now studying PsychologyPsychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
at the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
. She was once signed to Next Model Management,but is currently signed to Ford Models in New York. In 2002-2004 she was a spokesperson for L'Oréal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
cosmetics., and is now promoting Arik Airlines.
In 2006, Darego participated in Catwalk the World - Fashion for Food, a global campaign organised by the United Nations World Food Programme which included a fashion show. A photograph which showed her topless during her runway walk was printed in Nigerian newspapers and caused national outrage, with members of the public accusing her of "debasing womanhood and serving as a bad role model to young women" Darego denies that the photograph was intentional. She told an interviewer in 2011: "My body is not for sale, so I can’t pose nude for any amount. I remember the topless pose you are talking about. That question has always been asked me and my answer is the same. It wasn’t perfect. It was just a dress malfunction and that’s what it was...I would never deliberately put myself in such an awkward position."
External links
- http://www.agbani.com/
- http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/1661191.stm BBC article about the 2001 competition
- Agbani photospread in Essence Magazine 2006