The Lagos representative and medical doctor beat 19 other contestants at Balmoral Hall and will now represent Nigeria at the 75th Miss Universe Festival in Puerto Rico.
Danielle Adewusi, the Lagos State representative, was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 on Sunday night, seeing off 19 other contestants at the grand finale held at Balmoral Hall, Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island, Lagos.
The coronation capped weeks of camp activities, advocacy projects, talent showcases and runway performances. Silverbird, which runs the pageant, said Adewusi stood out for her "confidence, intelligence, elegance and commitment to social impact" before sealing the crown in the final question-and-answer round.
She will next fly Nigeria's flag at the 75th Miss Universe Festival on 24 November in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and take her "Scrub the Stigma" women's-health project to the global stage.
By day, Adewusi is a doctor. A physician who describes herself as an aspiring obstetrician-gynaecologist, she studied at King's College London, earning an MBBS alongside a first-class BSc (Hons) in Psychology, and has published research in international scientific journals.
Her advocacy predates the crown. In 2023 she founded Scrub the Stigma, an organisation that tackles stigma around women's health and helps patients cover medical bills, including at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State. She is also a classically trained pianist and cellist who studied at the Guildhall School of Music, and she placed in the top five of Miss Universe Great Britain before returning to compete at home.
The rest of the night:
- 1st Runner-Up: Anita Osikhena, Edo - 2nd Runner-Up: Myya Jones, Cross River - 3rd Runner-Up: Oluwafunmibi Ajaja, Ekiti - 4th Runner-Up: Melissa Toghanro, Delta
Jones secured her Top Five place after polling the highest in the fast-track vote. Toghanro was named Nigeria's representative at Miss Supranational, while Osikhena had a busy night of her own, winning the Pitch Your Dream Competition (₦1m plus a two-night stay at Yolo Island Beach Resort) and the Best Advocacy Project award (₦500,000 and a year's supply of Golden Penny products).
Special awards went to Miss Akwa Ibom (Most Photogenic), Miss Ekiti (Miss Amity), Miss Edo (Best Evening Dress), Miss Oyo (Top Model), Miss Osun (Best National Costume) and Miss Ogun (Best Talent).
Guy Murray-Bruce, president of the Silverbird Group and national director of Miss Universe Nigeria, placed the crown on Adewusi to close the ceremony.
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