Nigeria has never been in short supply of talented beauty queens. We have had a number of beautiful ladies representing the country in different categories. But it was the emergence of a beauty queen as the winner of Miss World 2001 that marked a new dawn for Nigeria. Agbani Darego, a world-class figure, a lady with beauty as refreshing as a serenade. Darego is unlike many media-hungry celebrities; quiet, reserved and demanding. She is indeed like a flowing stream in the country, serene, beautiful and attractive.
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Agbani Darego Biography, Family
Born, Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenit Darego on December 22, 1982 in Abonnema, Riversal State, as the sixth of eight children conceived by her parents. Her father was a customs officer and her mother, Inaewo, ran a rice trading business and a fashion boutique that required frequent travel. As a little girl, Darego developed a love for the fashion world, spending hours flipping through foreign fashion magazines her mother brought with her. Maybe that was also the beginning of her desire to be a model. At the age of 10, shortly after the death of her mother, Darego was sent to the Federal Government Girls College (FGGC) in Abuloma (a boarding school). She died of breast cancer.
Agbani went to the University of Port Harcourt after high school to study computer science. A year into college, her slim 6ft 9in height drove her to enter beauty pageants. She started “The Face of Africa” modeling competition held in Lagos and she was runner-up. In January 2001 Darego won the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria competition, which will qualify her for the Miss World pageant later that year. In November of the same year, she was crowned Miss World at the Miss Universe Beauty Contest in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Life as a model
The fact that modeling is a profession in which your value is tied to your looks and cannot be overemphasized. Agbani Darego is really beautiful; She is one of the extraordinarily beautiful Nigerian women whose beauty has opened the door to make her dreams come true. Before winning MBGN, Darego appeared in commercials for the boutique chain Collectibles , but her stint on Miss Universe opened more doors in her career. Darego was the first black woman from Africa to win the Miss World pageant. She made it into a worthwhile feat as she made several public appearances around the world and served as the unofficial ambassador for her country and the wider continent.
We must not forget to mention that her home country took her victory with great joy. During her year-long tenure, she made some goodwill trips and scheduled appearances for the pageant. Above all, she received two honorary awards, first as a member of the Chief Council in Lagos and second as a member of the Federal Republic (MFR). She was also invited by Naomi Campbell to attend a charity fashion show in Barcelona called Frock ‘n’ Roll . She also negotiated a modeling deal with Donald Trump’s management to connect with modeling agencies in America.
As a popular modeling quote goes, when you’re modeling, you’re actually acting for the camera and the photographer and what makes it even more fun is you don’t have to memorize your lines. Darego achieved great success and most importantly enjoyed working with respected designers such as Oscar de la Renta, Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, Gianfranco Ferre and renowned photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, Markus Klinko, Avon and Richard Burbridge. She has also appeared in beauty and fashion ads including Christian Dior Beauty, Sephora, Target and many more. Darego in particular was able to complete her tertiary education in 2012 at a renowned New York university, where she studied psychology.
Other achievements
Agbani Darego was announced in 2011 as a brand ambassador for two of Nigeria’s leading brands – Arik Air and Nature’s Gentle Touch. In 2013 Darego founded the retail brand “AD by Agbani Darego”. In order to follow the business progress, Darego launched an e-commerce platform called AD by agbanidarego.com in 2014, which online buyers can easily access. She chose to become a breast cancer awareness patron. Although she does not have her own NGO, she has some NGOs like Dr. Kerry’s Foundation – an NGO set up to reduce the burden of NCDs in Africa. She has also judged numerous pageants, fashion and modeling competitions including Miss World 2014, Miss England 2002, Mr Scotland 2002 and Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 and 2014.
Personal life
It is common for all celebrities to keep their personal life truly personal, Agbani Darego is no exception. A few years ago it was rumored that the former beauty queen wanted to marry a politician and businessman named Timi Alaibe, who hails from the state of Bayelsa. In addition, the politician made it publicly clear that he had no intention of tying the knot with the beauty queen. Frowning at the growing rumor, the politician, whose wife died leaving him with two children, said he has nothing outside of family ties to Agbani Darego. On the same page, popular rapper Jude Abaga, who goes by the stage name MI, wrote to Darego stating that he wants to marry her if she allows it.
Married life, husband, children
The black beauty married her sweetheart IshayaDanjuma, son of former Nigerian defense minister and popular businessman Theophilus Danjuma. The couple married on April 8, 2017 in Marrakech, Morocco. She had shared some pictures of her honeymoon on Instagram, which is her only social media platform, by the way.
As a newly married couple, children are sure to come, but until then, Agbani has her handful with a loving husband, a sweet niece who she calls “Auntie Miss World.” and her modeling career, which is not ending anytime soon.
Wealth (income and earnings)
With a range of ventures in both the media and fashion industry – her styled reality show, Stylogenic on Nigerian TV, her line of bags, Agbani Darego Clothing; Endorsements, etc. Agbani’s net worth is set at $1 million.