Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has shared a deeply personal story about how she found herself homeless for a month after participating in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) pageant, following her father’s disapproval of her decision to compete in beauty contests.
Speaking at the Nigerian Women’s Day event during the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Bianca Ojukwu reflected on her early struggles, the impact of her decisions, and her eventual transition from pageantry to advocacy and philanthropy.
During her speech, she emphasized the transformative power of education in a woman’s life, highlighting how it played a crucial role in her journey.
Recounting her childhood dreams and aspirations, Bianca revealed that she had always been fascinated by beauty contests and saw them as a gateway to explore the world beyond her immediate environment.
“I started off really as a young girl with a deep desire to see the world,” she said.
“I remember sitting in the common room with other young girls. Back in those days, we would gather around the television, watching ‘Top of the Pops,’ admiring music videos, and most importantly, following international pageants like Miss World and Miss Universe. More than anything, we were captivated by the exotic backdrops and the idea of traveling the world.”
Bianca explained that this desire for adventure and exposure led her to explore pageantry as an avenue to achieve her dreams.
“I just wanted to travel and see the world, and I figured that one of the best ways to do so was through pageantry,” she said.
Determined to pursue this dream, Bianca entered a beauty contest and emerged victorious. However, this victory came with an unexpected challenge—her first major prize was a one-year modeling contract in Tokyo, which she had to decline due to her studies.
“So, I took a chance and entered a pageant, and I won,” she recounted. “But the offer that came with it—a one-year modeling contract in Tokyo—was not something I could accept as a student. My education was still a priority.”
She further revealed that she had initially kept her participation in the pageant a secret from her parents, knowing they would disapprove.
“Of course, my parents didn’t know I was doing this,” she admitted. “They sent me to school to study, not to participate in a beauty contest.”
Despite this setback, Bianca later decided to compete in the prestigious MBGN pageant, a decision that led to a major confrontation with her father, who was a former governor and a highly disciplined man.
Her father’s reaction was so severe that she was left homeless for an entire month.
“When I finally took part in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria competition, it caused a huge uproar in my home,” she recalled. “My father was livid with rage, and as a result, I was rendered homeless for a whole month.”
However, as Bianca went on to achieve further success in the pageantry world—winning titles such as Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental—her father eventually came to terms with her accomplishments and accepted her choices.
“But over time, after winning other titles like Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental, he finally had to accept it,” she stated.
Reflecting on her journey, Bianca spoke about the difficulties of handling fame, financial independence, and education at a young age.
She pointed out that earning money early in life can be a double-edged sword, often tempting young people to abandon their studies.
“One of the hardest challenges young women face when they start earning money early is the temptation to leave school,” she explained.
“By the time I was earning my own money, I was a law student living in a hostel with about six other students, with limited access to basic amenities like water. Going back to school to complete my education as a lawyer was extremely challenging, but I knew it was the right thing to do.”
Despite the hardships, she described her decision to complete her law degree as one of the most significant choices she ever made.
“Looking back, I can confidently say that continuing my education was one of the best decisions I ever made,” she affirmed.
Bianca used her personal experiences to emphasize the critical importance of education, urging young women to recognize and harness its power.
“I think young women today need to understand just how powerful education is,” she noted. “It can transform lives, create opportunities, and open doors that would otherwise remain shut.”
Beyond her career in pageantry, Bianca has transitioned into advocacy and philanthropy. She is the founder of the Hope House Trust, a non-governmental organization dedicated to humanitarian efforts, particularly in the areas of women’s empowerment and education.
Her journey, from being a beauty queen to becoming a government official and advocate, serves as an inspiring testament to resilience, determination, and the importance of education in shaping one’s destiny.