I want to win Miss Universe Nigeria like my mum — Dr Danielle Adewusi
Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
Interview
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Context piece
- Dr. Danielle Adewusi aims to win Miss Universe Nigeria, following in the footsteps of her mother who won the title 35 years ago.
- Adewusi, a medical doctor and model, sees the pageant as a platform to champion women's health and advocate for change.
- She draws inspiration from her mother's teachings on confidence and self-worth, rather than specific pageant tips.
Dr. Danielle Adewusi is vying for the Miss Universe Nigeria crown, inspired by her mother’s victory in the same pageant 35 years prior. While pageantry was not her initial focus, Adewusi, a medical doctor, model, and public speaker, found a deeper purpose in the platform during her medical studies.
When I looked at the list, I realised I wasn’t describing several different careers. I was describing one, and it already existed: Miss Universe.
Adewusi explained that she didn't want a life requiring her to choose between her passions. She realized that medicine, women's health advocacy, and influencing policy could all be integrated within the Miss Universe platform. "When I looked at the list, I realised I wasn’t describing several different careers. I was describing one, and it already existed: Miss Universe," she stated.
Not because I wanted a crown, but because I saw the platform for what it truly is: an opportunity to represent my country while championing women’s health and creating meaningful change for women and girls in Nigeria and beyond.
She views the competition not just as a quest for a crown, but as a significant opportunity to represent Nigeria and champion women's health initiatives. The timing of her participation, coinciding with her mother's legacy, adds a layer of personal meaning to her journey.
My mum hasn’t actually given me specific tips about pageantry. Instead, she raised my sisters and I to be queens in our own right.
Adewusi attributes her confidence and approach to her upbringing, emphasizing her mother's lessons on self-assurance and embracing uniqueness. "My mum hasn’t actually given me specific tips about pageantry. Instead, she raised my sisters and I to be queens in our own right," Adewusi shared. Her mother taught her to be confident, stand up against injustice, and see her height not as a hindrance but as an advantage.
She taught us to be unapologetic about taking up space, to be confident in our opinions, to stand up in the face of injustice, and to embrace the qualities that make us unique.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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