What an incredible night it was at the Balmoral Event Centre in Lagos this past Saturday. Onyinyechi Basil, the beauty from Anambra State, won the title of Miss Universe Nigeria 2025. She is 25 years old and is ready to wear that crown given up by last year’s Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetishina, while preparing for the big world showdown of Miss Universe.
The entire night was charged. All of the participating 22 contestants brought down their swimsuits, brought some gorgeous evening gowns, and gave some real mind-bursting Q&As. Well, at the end of the day, it came down to Onyinyechi and Miss Lagos, Damilola Bolarinde, as the last two remaining contestants. When her name got called, the place erupted. You could just feel the chills.
The night is not just only about the crown. It is about celebrating our culture, beauty, and raw talent. Cheers to Fortune Kurobo from Bayelsa, who was the second runner up, and Irene Ikediashi from Ogun, who was third. Oh, and also Miss Supranational Nigeria 2025 was Idah Eno from Akwa Ibom. These girls rocked it.
Now, she comes out of the shadows and into the spotlight. She’s got this crazy career going, overseeing West African operations for a massive South Korean company. But she’s also all about social activism, pushing for better maternal healthcare back home in Nigeria. She’s been there raising awareness and making some really big noise about it, too.
She shared her huge wishes during the competition for what would be a crown to her in helping elevate women’s education and empowerment. The moment that crown was placed on her head, she said, “I want young girls to know that they can be more, achieve more, and still celebrate their cultural identity.” Man, isn’t that just home? It’s as though she’s speaking straight to the next generation.
As such, Miss Universe Nigeria 2025, Onyinyechi is ready to take the story of Nigeria to the world. It’s about showcasing what our culture and strengths are, while also keeping that flame of advocacy burning. Can’t wait to see her shine on that international stage.
