Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has shared a deeply personal account of how her journey into pageantry led to a period of homelessness due to her father’s disapproval. Speaking at the Nigerian Women’s Day event during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations (UN) headquarters in New York, she recounted the challenges she faced in her transition from beauty queen to global advocate.
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Bianca, whose childhood dream was to travel the world, saw beauty contests as an opportunity to fulfill that aspiration. Her first taste of success came when she won a beauty pageant that offered a one-year modeling contract in Tokyo, which she had to decline to focus on her studies. Without her parents’ knowledge, she later participated in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) competition, a decision that enraged her father to the point that she was rendered homeless for a month.
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Despite this, she persevered, winning additional titles, including Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental, which eventually softened her father’s stance. Reflecting on her journey, she emphasized the crucial role of education in empowering women. She noted that earning money at a young age could be a double-edged sword, as it often tempts individuals to abandon their education. However, completing her law degree remains one of the best decisions she ever made, a choice she believes young women should prioritize.
Beyond pageantry, Bianca transitioned into philanthropy and advocacy, founding the Hope House Trust, a humanitarian organization. Her story underscores the importance of resilience, education, and self-belief in overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
