Nike Oshinowo

Nike Oshinowo (born Adenike Asabi Oshinowo, 1966)[1] is a Nigerian entrepreneur, former pageant director, talk show host, and style icon.[2]

Nike Oshinowo
Born
Adenike Asabi Oshinowo
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMBGN 1991
Hair colourBrown
Eye colourBrown
Major
competition(s)
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1991
Websitenikeoshinowo.com.ng

Early life and pageants

Oshinowo was raised in Ibadan and England, where she attended boarding school. Although she had intended to become an air hostess or a doctor, she studied Politics at the University of Essex. Shortly after obtaining her degree, Oshinowo, mentored by former Miss Nigeria Helen Prest, represented Rivers at the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant and became its first Yoruba winner (She was crowned in 1990, but reigned through 1991).[3] Her victory attracted controversy from the audience and showbiz journalists following rumours the contest was rigged in her favor. Towards the end of her reign Oshinowo, in an interview with a soft-sell magazine, denied Prest had a hand in her MBGN victory.

In 1991, Oshinowo, then representing Nigeria at Miss World, criticised her South African counterpart, Diana Tilden-Davis, after the latter reportedly made derogatory remarks regarding black women. According to The Sowetan, Tilden-Davis had stated native South Africans were absent from the national pageant due to their high teen pregnancy rate. Miss World officials banned Tilden-Davis, who subsequently placed third in the contest that year, from arguing against the accusation, dismissing the report as a rumour.[4][5][6]

Career

After her reign, Oshinowo featured in a commercial for the Venus de Milo beauty range, and hosted a fashion and beauty show on Nigerian television. Her business ventures included African food delivery service Buka Express, and health and beauty day spa Skin Deep [7] which ran for seven years before it was sold after she decided to create her own range of beauty products for the Nigerian market.[8][9] On January 17, 2010, she released the workout video Nike Oshinowo: Fit, Forty and Fabulous - the first celebrity fitness DVD produced in the country - and launched her own fragrance Asabi.[2][10]

In 2010, after a six-year attempt, Oshinowo finally bought the Miss Nigeria franchise from former organisers Daily Times, and became chief executive and creative director of the pageant.[2][11][12] As of 2012, she is no longer in charge,[13][14] but is now working on another pageant in which the winner will reign for a hundred years.[15]

In 2014, Oshinowo launched her talk show Late Night with Nike Oshinowo on AIT.[16]

Personal life

Oshinowo, who speaks five languages (English, French, Japanese, Spanish, and her native Yoruba), married medical doctor Tunde Soleye in 2006,[17][18] but is now divorced.[19] In 2009, the couple were in the news following a lawsuit instituted by Soleye's ex-wife Funmilayo, who claimed that he had been unfaithful with Oshinowo during their marriage.[20] In 2013, she spoke of her struggle with endometriosis which has plagued her since boarding school by age 13,[21] and at the age of 47 she became the mother of twins via surrogacy in America.[22]

References

  1. Adeniran, Yemisi (22 January 2011). "I am your everyday girl -Nike Oshinowo". National Mirror. Lagos, Nigeria. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. "Nigerian Beauty Queens still rocking". The Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  3. Lawal, Kemi (21 August 2011). "Their crowns, their love, their lives". The Punch. Nigeria. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  4. "CHRONICLE (Published 1991)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.
  5. Culture : Beauty and the Beast of Apartheid in S. Africa : Amid the bathing-suit and talent contests, there is also bias. A black woman can win and yet lose the crown
  6. Pressreader Article on Miss World 1991
  7. Onyema, Ada (19 June 2010). "The key to looking beautiful – Nike Oshinowo-Soleye, ex-beauty queen". The Punch. Nigeria. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  8. "Something New From Nike Oshinowo". Nigerian Tribune. Ibadan, Nigeria. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  9. "Nigeria HomePage - Breaking News, Business, Sports, Entertainment and Video News". www.thenigerianvoice.com. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  10. "Fit, Forty and Fabulous". The Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. 30 January 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  11. "Between Brand Owners and 'Miss Nigeria'". Thisday. Lagos, Nigeria. 18 July 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  12. Olukole, Tope (19 June 2010). "Miss Nigeria Returns After Six Years •To Hold In Three Continents". Nigerian Tribune. Ibadan, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  13. Nike Oshinowo Relinquishes Crown
  14. All Set For New Miss Nigeria
  15. I love to conquer — Nike Oshinowo
  16. "Nike Oshinowo's late night whispering - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2014-11-22. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  17. Lawal, Kemi (25 October 2009). "Nike Oshinowo-Soleye returns". The Punch. Nigeria. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  18. Ohai, Chux (30 January 2010). "I never thought I would get married - Nike Oshinowo-Soleye, former Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria". The Punch. Nigeria. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  19. Inyang, Ifreke (2013-01-22). ""It is simple and clean, this is not a scandal" - Dr. Soleye confirms split from Nike Oshinowo". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2017-08-29.
  20. Akpeh, Ebele (24 October 2009). "Infidelity - Ex-Beauty Queen, Nike Oshinowo Joined in Divorce Suit". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 30 May 2012.
  21. ‘I thought I was going to die’ – Nike Osinowo
  22. "It's twins for Nike Oshinowo - Vanguard News". Vanguard News. 2013-10-07. Retrieved 2017-08-29.

Alfred, Lanre (24 July 2010). "A Queen in a New Light". ThisDay. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 31 May 2012.

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