NIGERIA. Lagos State: An 18-year-old Shatu Garko from Kano State has emerged as the 2021 Miss Nigeria beauty pageant winner.
This year’s event which marked the 44th edition of the beauty pageant saw Garko defeating 18 other contestants at Landmark Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The new Miss Nigeria succeeded the 2019 and 43rd winner, Etsanyi Tukura who was from Taraba state. The first and second runners up were Nicole Ikot and Kasarachi Okoro respectively.
Garko’s reaction
“I’m happy to have emerged as the winner. Winning this competition means a lot to me and my family,” Garko said. Garko further stated that she always wished to be crowned Miss Nigeria, she appreciated the organizers, sponsors and her mother for supporting her dream.
My culture and religion have never stopped me from achieving or pursuing my dream, Garko said.
The winner of this year was rewarded with a cash prize of N10 million, an apartment, a new car and an ambassadorial deal among other benefits.
Aim of organizing the annual event
Speaking during the event, the founder of Folio Media Group, and organizer of Miss Nigeria 2021, Fidelis Anosike noted that the event is aimed at creating jobs and empowering youths. So this is more than just a beauty pageant.
Anosike added that coming up with such an event was a very difficult task to accomplish, especially now that the whole world is yet facing another pandemic.
The beauty pageant is aimed at revealing the good attributes of Nigerian women, Anosike said.
Eviction process
This year’s edition received more than 1,000 entries, which was later reduced to 120 and they were all invited to a face to face audition and 37 were selected.
The contestants were further reduced to 21 and later 18 were left to battle for supremacy.
Garko is the first-ever Hijabi pageant winner.
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