Danielle Adewusi, a medical doctor and women's health advocate, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2026. Adewusi studied Medicine at King's College London, where she earned an MBBS and a first-class BSc in Psychology. Her experience during medical school shaped her interest in combining medicine with women's health advocacy. An Obstetrics and Gynaecology rotation made her more aware of the barriers women face in accessing healthcare and motivated her to work beyond treating individual patients.
Adewusi's victory continues a family pageant legacy that began with her mother, Tonia Okogbenin, who won Miss Universe Nigeria in 1991. Despite growing up with an appreciation for pageantry, Adewusi said it was not initially her main focus. Her priority was excelling in school, studying Medicine and becoming a doctor. She later realised that pageantry could bring together her interests in medicine, women's health advocacy, modelling, and public speaking.
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. Adewusi had always wanted to compete at Miss Universe Nigeria but waited until she had reached important milestones in her medical career and advocacy work before entering.
Adewusi founded Scrub The Stigma, a women's health organisation focused on education and advocacy in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. The initiative runs health education programmes, including Educate Lagos and Educate Edo, which provide young people with information about menstrual health and wellbeing. Women's health was also central to her Miss Universe Nigeria advocacy project.
For Adewusi, becoming a beauty queen does not mean putting her medical career or advocacy aside. She believes that medicine and pageantry are part of the same mission: creating meaningful change in the lives of women and girls. She previously served as a United Nations Women UK delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women, where she gained a broader understanding of challenges affecting women across different countries.
As Miss Universe Nigeria 2026, Adewusi will represent Nigeria at the 75th Miss Universe Festival in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 24. She plans to use her new platform to expand conversations around women's healthcare and improve access to information. Adewusi's win was reported by The Punch, a Nigerian newspaper.
Adewusi's achievement has been celebrated by her community, with many praising her dedication to women's health advocacy. Her story serves as an inspiration to young women, particularly those interested in pursuing careers in medicine and advocacy. As she prepares to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe Festival, Adewusi remains committed to her mission of creating positive change in the lives of women and girls.
Key points
- Danielle Adewusi, a medical doctor, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2026.
- Adewusi's victory continues a family pageant legacy that began with her mother, Tonia Okogbenin, who won Miss Universe Nigeria in 1991.
- Adewusi plans to use her new platform to expand conversations around women's healthcare and improve access to information.
