Agbani Darego

Abonnema-native Darego was born in Lagos to a family as the sixth of eight children. At age two, her family relocated to Port Harcourt where she was raised in D-Line.{{Cite web|url=http://businessdayonline.com/2014/03/port-harcourt-the-city-of-gardens-heroes-and-stars/|title=BusinessDay Online, TV, and Podcast|language=en|access-date=2019-04-04|archive-date=2014-03-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314155657/http://businessdayonline.com/2014/03/port-harcourt-the-city-of-gardens-heroes-and-stars/|url-status=live}} Darego attended Bereton Montessori Nursery and Primary School, and at ten was sent to boarding school in a bid to shield her from her mother who battled breast cancer. Her mother, Inaewo, owned a rice trading business and a clothing boutique, but died two years after her daughter's move to boarding school. Darego has spoken of how the loss prepared her for tough challenges in the future. As a teenager, Darego longed to be a model, and auditioned for the M-Net Face of Africa modelling competition despite her conservative father's wishes, but was not chosen as a finalist. Darego attended Federal Government Girls' College, Abuloma.{{cite web | url =https://www.bellanaija.com/2011/01/fggc-abuloma-celebrates-one-of-their-own-miss-world-2001model-agbani-darego-receives-an-award-from-her-alma-mater/ | title =FGGC Abuloma celebrates one of their own – Miss World 2001/Model Agbani Darego receives an award from her alma mater | date =26 January 2011 | publisher =Bella Naija | access-date =2019-01-08 | archive-date =2019-01-08 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20190108200935/https://www.bellanaija.com/2011/01/fggc-abuloma-celebrates-one-of-their-own-miss-world-2001model-agbani-darego-receives-an-award-from-her-alma-mater/ | url-status =live }} Upon completing her secondary education she attended University of Port Harcourt where she studied Computer Science and Mathematics.[http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/i-wear-what-fits-agbani-darego/ I Wear What Fits] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107142946/http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/i-wear-what-fits-agbani-darego/ |date=January 7, 2014 }}

In 2001, Darego was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. Contrary to popular belief, Darego did not replace Valerie Peterside after the latter was dethroned; Peterside had competed in rival pageant Miss Nigeria. A few months later Darego was a contestant at Miss Universe, and became the first Nigerian to place among the top 10 semi-finalists, finishing seventh overall. She was the only top ten contestant to wear a modest maillot as opposed to a revealing bikini during the swimsuit competition.[http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/glamour-queens/ Glamour queens] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122212250/http://www.punchng.com/spice/personalities/glamour-queens/ |date=January 22, 2015 }}

In November that year, she became the first Indigenous African to claim the Miss World title (Past winners Penelope Coelen and Anneline Kriel, both of South Africa, are of European descent, and Antigone Costanda, who represented Egypt in 1954 is of Greek heritage). Darego's victory was widely welcomed in her home country, and her one-year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant, and an MFR.

Prior to winning MBGN, Darego featured in print commercials for boutique chain Collectables. After Miss Universe she was invited by Naomi Campbell to participate in Frock 'n' Roll, a charity fashion show in Barcelona, and soon negotiated a modelling deal with Trump Model Management in America.{{Cite web |url=http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/spotlight/missworld/5.html |title=Anne Titilope now Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria |access-date=2013-02-04 |archive-date=2013-10-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004231939/http://nigeriaworld.com/feature/spotlight/missworld/5.html |url-status=live }} Shortly after her reign as Miss World she was represented by London and Paris branches of Next Model Management and landed a three-year contract with L'Oréal, becoming only the second Black model to accomplish this feat after Vanessa Williams, and was photographed by Annie Leibovitz, a big name in Americans portrait photograph sphere{{Cite news|url=https://buzznigeria.com/agbani-darego-and-everything-you-must-know-about-her/|title=Agbani Darego Married, Husband, Children, Net Worth, Interesting Facts|date=2015-10-21|work=BuzzNigeria - Famous People, Celebrity Bios, Updates and Trendy News|access-date=2018-05-23|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-05-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523173436/https://buzznigeria.com/agbani-darego-and-everything-you-must-know-about-her/|url-status=live}} for Vogue. Other brands she has modelled for include Avon, Christian Dior, Sephora, Target, and Macy’s. Darego has also appeared in Elle, Marie Claire, Allure, Trace, Stitch, Cosmopolitan, and Essence magazines, working with numerous designers including Oscar de la Renta, Marc Bouwer, Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, and Gianfranco Ferre.

In her homeland Darego has appeared in advertising campaigns for hair care brand Gentle Touch with model Oluchi, and served as the face of Arik Air.[http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/agbani-darego-becomes-arik-s-brand-ambassador/94667/ Agbani Darego Becomes Arik’s Brand Ambassador] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003451/http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/agbani-darego-becomes-arik-s-brand-ambassador/94667/ |date=October 5, 2013 }} She has also graced the covers of Complete Fashion, Mania, ThisDay Style, Genevieve, True Love, and TW Magazine.

File:Agbani Darego Miss World.jpg in 2001]]

Darego has judged numerous pageant, fashion and modelling competitions including Miss World 2014, Miss England 2002,

{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Tomorrow,+the+world;+Brainy+Miss+England+gives+lie+to+the+old+jokes.-a092211278|title=Tomorrow, the world; Brainy Miss England gives lie to the old jokes. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2017-08-29|archive-date=2017-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830010202/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Tomorrow,+the+world;+Brainy+Miss+England+gives+lie+to+the+old+jokes.-a092211278|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://insta4likes.com/blog/miss-world-2001-recounts-how-she-experienced-the-incidents-in-nigeria.html|title=Miss World 2001 recounts how she experienced the incidents in Nigeria |access-date=2023-01-29}} Mr. Scotland 2002,{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Red-hot+prize+girls.-a083335893|title=Red-hot prize girls. - Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2017-08-29|archive-date=2017-08-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830010031/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Red-hot+prize+girls.-a083335893|url-status=live}} and Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 and 2014.[http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/glitz-glam-of-elite-model-look-nigeria-2012/ Glitz, glam of Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215084757/http://www.punchng.com/spice/society/glitz-glam-of-elite-model-look-nigeria-2012/ |date=December 15, 2012 }} In 2010, she launched a style and fashion reality show Stylogenic on Nigerian television, and three years later announced her denim range, AD by Agbani Darego, which includes jeans, dresses, sunglasses and bags.

In the aftermath of her win in 2001, Darego was awarded an honorary chieftaincy by the Council of Chiefs of Lagos. At the time of her investiture, she was one of the youngest chiefs in the country. {{cite web|url=https://answersafrica.com/agbani-darego-everything-you-must-know-about-the-world-famous-nigerian-model.html|title=What Has Agbani Darego Been Up To Since Her Reign As Miss World And Who Is Her Husband?|website=answersafrica.com|accessdate=November 18, 2022}}

Due to her busy work schedule, Darego left the University of Port Harcourt, but after moving to New York where she was signed to Next Model Management, Ford Models, and Trump Models, she enrolled with New York University to study Psychology, graduating in May 2012.

In April 2017, Darego married her longtime partner Ishaya Danjuma, son of billionaire General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, in a ceremony held in Marrakesh. Together they have a son who was born in September 2018, and welcomed another child in December 2020.

{{Reflist}}

• [http://agbanidarego.com/ Official website]

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{{succession box

| before={{flagicon|India}} Priyanka Chopra

| title=Miss World

| years=2001

| after={{flagicon|Turkey}} Azra Akın

}}

{{succession box

| before=Matilda Kerry

| title=Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria

| years=2001

| after=Ann Suinner

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Miss Universe 2001 delegates}}

{{Miss World 2001 delegates}}

{{Miss World titleholders}}

{{Big Four Pageants titleholders

|Year = 2001

|Miss Universe={{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} Denise Quiñones

|Miss World={{flagicon|Nigeria}} Agbani Darego

|Miss International={{flagicon|Poland}} Małgorzata Rożniecka

|Miss Earth={{flagicon|Denmark}} Catharina Svensson

}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Darego, Agbani}}

Category:1982 births

Category:21st-century Nigerian businesswomen

Category:21st-century Nigerian businesspeople

Category:Beauty pageant contestants from Rivers State

Category:Ijaw people

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Order of the Federal Republic

Category:Miss Universe 2001 contestants

Category:Miss World 2001 delegates

Category:Miss World winners

Category:Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria winners

Category:New York University alumni

Category:Nigerian businesspeople in fashion

Category:Nigerian female models

Category:People from Port Harcourt

Category:University of Port Harcourt alumni

Category:Danjuma family