For Danielle Adewusi, winning Miss Universe Nigeria 2026 is more than a pageant triumph. It is an opportunity to amplify conversations about women’s health, a cause that has remained central to her career as a medical doctor and advocate.
Adewusi, who represented Lagos State, clinched the national title after competing against 19 contestants at the grand finale in Lagos. She will represent Nigeria at the 75th Miss Universe pageant in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on November 24, 2026.
A graduate of King’s College London, Adewusi holds an MBBS degree and a First-Class BSc in Psychology, combining medical expertise with an understanding of mental health and wellbeing. Her professional journey reflects a commitment to taking health education beyond hospital walls and making vital information more accessible to women and girls.
At the heart of her advocacy is Scrub the Stigma, a women’s health charity she founded to promote awareness, challenge misconceptions and empower women to make informed decisions about their health. Through its outreach programmes, the organisation provides young people with information on menstrual health and wellbeing, while her broader advocacy addresses barriers to quality healthcare.
Adewusi’s entry into pageantry also has a family connection. Her mother, Tonia Okogbenin, won Miss Universe Nigeria in 1991, making the crown a significant part of her family’s history. However, Adewusi has carved out her own path, combining her medical training with a commitment to women’s health advocacy.
Her work has extended to the international stage, where she served as a United Nations Women UK delegate to the Commission on the Status of Women. The experience provided an opportunity to engage with issues affecting women and girls across communities.
As she prepares for the international competition, Adewusi hopes to use the visibility of her new platform to bring women’s health issues to a wider audience. For her, the crown represents an opportunity to move beyond the glamour of pageantry and draw attention to concerns that affect women’s everyday lives.
With medicine, advocacy and international representation converging in her journey, Adewusi is positioning her reign around a clear mission: to make women’s health a more prominent part of public conversation.
