Danielle Adewusi has emerged as Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 at the pageant’s grand finale, which took place on Sunday, September 27, at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Representing Lagos State, the medical doctor beat 19 other contestants to be crowned winner at the end of the night.
According to the organizers, Adewusi impressed the judges with her confidence, intelligence, elegance, and commitment to social impact before winning the title after the final question-and-answer session.
The newly crowned queen will now fly Nigeria’s flag at the 75th Miss Universe Festival scheduled to be held on November 24 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
After a competitive finale, the final placements were announced as
- Winner: Danielle Adewusi — Lagos
- 1st Runner-Up: Anita Osikhena — Edo
- 2nd Runner-Up: Myya Jones—Cross River
- 3rd Runner-Up: Oluwafunmibi Ajaja — Ekiti
- 4th Runner-Up: Melissa Toghanro — Delta
The Top 10 finalists also included Benedicta Iferike from Abuja, Chidinma Oluku from Abia, Precious Chinah from Rivers, Eno Idungafa from Akwa Ibom, and Edidiong Udoidua from Ebonyi.
View this post on Instagram
Jones received the highest number of votes in the fast-track voting process, earning an automatic place in the Top Five.
Toghanro also emerged as Nigeria’s representative at Miss Supranational, while Osikhena was among the night’s major award winners.
Osikhena won the Pitch Your Dream Competition, receiving ₦1m from Yolo Island and a two-night, all-expenses-paid stay at Yolo Island Beach Resort.
She also won the Best Advocacy Project award, taking home ₦500,000 and a one-year supply of Golden Penny products.
Other special award winners were
Most Photogenic: Miss Akwa Ibom
Miss Amity: Miss Ekiti
Best Evening Dress: Miss Edo
Top Model: Miss Oyo
Best National Costume: Miss Osun
Best Talent: Miss Ogun
ALSO READ: Dominican Republic’s Joheirry Mola Dominguez Crowned Miss World 2026
Facts About Danielle Adewusi
1. Adewusi studied medicine at King’s College London, where she earned an MBBS and a first-class BSc in psychology.
2. Her mother, Tonia Okogbenin, was also Miss Universe Nigeria. She won the crown in 1991.
3. Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 is not Adewusi’s first pageant experience. She previously competed at Miss Universe Great Britain in 2023, where she finished among the top five contestants.
4. She is the founder of ‘Scrub The Stigma,’ a women’s health organization focused on education and advocacy in Nigeria and the United Kingdom.