Nigeria’s bid for the Miss Universe crown is officially under way. Danielle Adewusi, the reigning Miss Universe Nigeria, has arrived in Puerto Rico to represent the country at the 75th edition of the global pageant, which will be decided on 24 November in San Juan.
Her arrival was announced on Monday, 9 November, on the official Miss Universe Nigeria social media pages, according to reports by Gazette, TheNiche and QED. The organisers used the announcement to urge Nigerians to back her in the online voting that forms part of the competition.
A call for Nigerians to vote
The Miss Universe Nigeria team asked supporters to vote for Adewusi in two public categories, the Fan Vote/Favourite and Beyond the Crown, saying the voting portal is open and that every vote counts. Fan votes have become an important part of modern international pageants, giving contestants with large home audiences a chance to boost their profile during the competition.
Adewusi joins delegates from around 120 countries and territories who are gathering on the island. The final will take place at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, the largest indoor arena in the Caribbean, popularly known as the Choliseo.
Who is Danielle Adewusi?
Adewusi represented Lagos State at the national pageant and was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 on 27 September at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, beating 19 other contestants. She received the crown from Guy Murray-Bruce, President of the Silverbird Group and National Director of Miss Universe Nigeria, Arise News and Voice of Nigeria reported.
She is a medical doctor with a particular interest in women’s health and has described herself as an aspiring obstetrician and gynaecologist, Vanguard reported. Her advocacy project, “Scrub the Stigma”, focuses on women’s health issues, and she is expected to present it on the Miss Universe stage.
Her win also carried a family story. Her mother, Tonia Okogbenin, held the Miss Universe Nigeria title in 1991 and represented the country at that year’s global pageant, making Adewusi’s victory a crown won 35 years after her mother’s. QED has also reported that she was previously a finalist at Miss Universe Great Britain before entering the Nigerian contest.
The road to the final
According to the official schedule reported by ¡Hola!, delegates began arriving on 8 November. From 11 to 17 November, contestants will take part in cultural tours and charity activities across Puerto Rico, before the National Costume show on 21 November at the Coliseo. Preliminary rounds lead up to the coronation night on 24 November, when Mexico’s Fátima Bosch, Miss Universe 2025, will crown her successor.
This year’s edition is a milestone for the pageant, which celebrates its 75th anniversary. Puerto Rico previously hosted Miss Universe in 1972, 2001 and 2002, but this will be the first time the Choliseo stages the event. The 2001 edition, held on the island, is remembered by many Nigerians because Agbani Darego reached the semi-final stage there before going on to win Miss World later that year.
What it means for Nigeria
Nigeria has yet to win the Miss Universe title, and pageant watchers will be hoping that Adewusi’s mix of professional credentials and advocacy work can carry her deep into the competition. The coming fortnight of interviews, preliminary shows and public appearances will shape how judges and fans see her before the final night.
Supporters who wish to back her can do so through the official Miss Universe voting platforms, details of which have been shared on the Miss Universe Nigeria pages. Flashinfong will follow her progress through to the coronation on 24 November.
Sources: Gazette Nigeria, Legit.ng, QED, TheNiche, Vanguard, Arise News, Voice of Nigeria, ¡Hola!, Wikipedia.
