Nigeria’s foremost inter-campus beauty pageant, the Most Beautiful Campus Queen (MBCQ), has marked its fifth anniversary with a celebration of excellence, empowerment, and lasting impact. Since its inception in 2019, the MBCQ platform has consistently fostered personal growth, academic ambition, and social consciousness among Nigerian undergraduates and fresh graduates.
Founded by visionary youth advocate Divine Future Johnson, the MBCQ pageant was designed not only to crown beauty but to spotlight creativity, intelligence, and the resilience of young women striving for greatness both on and off campus.
A Vision Rooted in Education and Self-Expression
At its core, MBCQ stands as more than just a beauty contest. It is a youth-driven initiative that fuses the glamour of pageantry with the substance of purpose. The pageant encourages female students to pursue higher education while chasing their dreams across diverse fields—including fashion, arts, business, and humanitarian work.
The competition creates a unique space for intellectual engagement and self-discovery, while also enabling participants to build lifelong connections and amplify their voices. Each contestant embarks on a journey that blends personal development with community responsibility.
Through a range of carefully curated activities, MBCQ challenges contestants to stretch beyond conventional pageantry. The inclusion of weekly humanitarian tasks not only strengthens their leadership and public speaking skills but also instills in them a strong sense of civic duty and compassion for society.
A Nationwide Platform with Inclusive Opportunities
Open to undergraduates and recent graduates across Nigerian universities and polytechnics, the MBCQ pageant casts a wide net. From the audition stage, 50 contestants are initially selected, with the final 30 determined by public voting—a process that encourages transparency, inclusivity, and community engagement.
Contestants showcase not just physical elegance but also intelligence, creativity, and social awareness throughout the competition. The highlight of the event is the grand finale during pageant week, where the final contestants demonstrate their talents, social projects, and communication skills before a panel of judges and an enthusiastic audience.
This format has helped establish MBCQ as a vibrant platform that celebrates diverse forms of beauty and inspires young women to embrace their unique identities.
Track Record of Excellence and International Representation
In just five years, MBCQ has made a remarkable imprint on the Nigerian pageant and youth empowerment scene. It has produced winners who have gone on to accomplish extraordinary feats and raise the flag of Nigeria on global stages.
One of the most notable successes is Ololade Ayelabola, a former titleholder from the University of Lagos, who gained international recognition as a Guinness World Record holder. Her story has become a source of inspiration for many aspiring queens within and beyond the country.
In 2023, MBCQ extended its influence to the international scene, proudly representing Nigeria at the Miss Teen Globe International Pageant held in Paraguay. This international participation underscored the pageant’s growing reputation and the readiness of its queens to compete on the world stage.
Past Winners: A Legacy of Beauty and Impact
Each edition of the MBCQ pageant has produced a queen whose reign left a lasting impression on her community and peers. The winners have emerged from various institutions across the country, reflecting the pageant’s inclusive reach and appeal.
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2019/2020 – Victoria Akingbade from Olabisi Onabanjo University made history as the first Most Beautiful Campus Queen.
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2021 – Ololade Ayelabola from the University of Lagos, later became a Guinness World Record holder.
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2022 – Tajeruo Faith of the University of Benin took the crown, promoting female empowerment in her community.
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2023 – An exceptional year with two winners: Felicity Akuewanbhor from Ambrose Alli University and Agbahovbe Orevaoghene from the University of Benin, both of whom shared the stage with distinction.
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2024 – The most recent winner, Favour Atoe from the Federal University Otuoke, has already begun to make waves, upholding the tradition of grace, intelligence, and social impact.
These young women have gone on to become role models, advocates, and public speakers—living examples of the potential that the MBCQ pageant seeks to unlock in every contestant.
MBCQ’s Broader Impact on Nigerian Youth
Beyond the crowns and titles, MBCQ is changing the narrative around youth empowerment and education in Nigeria. By blending beauty with purpose, the pageant encourages young Nigerian women to believe in their dreams, speak their truths, and become agents of positive change.
In a time when many students grapple with identity, peer pressure, and academic uncertainty, MBCQ provides a supportive structure for them to find direction, mentorship, and encouragement. Its commitment to community service and social development projects ensures that the benefits of the pageant extend far beyond the stage.
Furthermore, the pageant’s founder, Divine Future Johnson, continues to push boundaries, leveraging partnerships and expanding outreach to keep MBCQ relevant and dynamic. His vision has birthed not just a pageant, but a movement that promotes education, gender equality, leadership, and self-confidence.
Looking Ahead: The Future of MBCQ
As the Most Beautiful Campus Queen pageant celebrates five impactful years, its future looks even brighter. Plans for more collaborations, capacity-building workshops, and international exposure are underway.
With more Nigerian universities embracing the pageant and a growing community of alumni queens making their mark, MBCQ is poised to remain a beacon of hope and empowerment for years to come.
Whether through humanitarian campaigns, campus awareness initiatives, or leadership development programs, the MBCQ pageant proves that beauty and brains are not mutually exclusive—and that young women have the power to lead with elegance and purpose.
