# The Nigerian Queen

The Nigerian Queen – abbreviated as TNQ and formerly also known as Miss Grand Nigeria – is an annual Nigerian beauty pageant. Formerly known as Queen of Trust, TNQ is organised by 001 Entertainment. Since 2021, TNQ representatives have competed at Miss Grand International.
The current titleholder is fashion model and former finalist at both MBGN and Miss Nigeria Damilola Bolarinde, who represented Lagos.

## History

001 Entertainment president, Kelvin Joseph Amroma, established Queen of Trust in 2009, with the first edition held in Port Harcourt. Winners adopt a platform (Known in Nigerian pageants as 'pet project') during their reign – an issue of interest affecting society, and once chosen, they use their status to address the public regarding their platform. In 2015, halfway through the winner's reign, Queen of Trust was renamed The Nigerian Queen, with 2014's titleholder Onyeka Agu named deputy national director. In 2020, for the first time in the pageant's 11-year history, the TNQ final was held in Lagos instead of Port Harcourt.

## Competition

As with most major Nigerian pageants, TNQ comprises various segments including local costume, evening gown, and interview. Preliminaries are held before the grand final, and both fashion and talent shows are included. Prior to 2016, contestants wore their first names on their sashes to reflect their individual personalities (Between 2013 and 2014, famous football player names were used), but each girl now represents a state, with more than one contestant occasionally acting as state delegate. Unlike other pageants with strict rules regarding vital statistics, plus-sized have also competed.
The most consistent awards at the TNQ finale are Best Dinner Gown, Best Local Costume (formerly Best Traditional Attire), Miss Popularity, Miss Photogenic, Most Talented, Top Model, and Nigerian Queen Multimedia. Other awards have included Miss Sportswoman and Miss Amity.
Prizes for the winner and runners-up vary each year; as of 2018 the winner receives a Hyundai car, 700 square metres of land, ₦1,000,000, and a trip to Dubai. According to the pageant's president Kelvin Joseph Amroma, during TNQ's first edition, the star prize was a television.

## Titleholders
### Early era: Queen of Trust

| Year | Queen of Trust (Queen of Trust International) | Runner-Up | Runner-Up | Runner-Up | Runner-Up | Notes |
| Year | Queen of Trust (Queen of Trust International) | Queen of Trust Africa Miss | Queen of Trust Nigeria | Queen of Trust Super Model | Queen of Trust Top Model | Notes |
| 2009 | Preye Inokoba | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Inokoba was later TNQ director (Queen Mother) |
| 2010 | Esthermary Chidinma Akpu | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2011 | Princess Nkechinyere Nwafor | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2012 | Joy Ogiator Omoalukhe | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| 2013 | Regina Rapheal Ushene | Samantha Ubani | Rebecca Nengi Hampson | Edikan Precious Udonyah | Not Awarded | Hampson replaced Ushene as TNQ. Later competed in Big Brother Naija |
| 2014 | Christabel Ijeoma Iwuala | Onyeka Maryann Agu | Lizzy Ozoadibe | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Agu replaced Iwuala as TNQ. Later became TNQ deputy national director |
| 2015 | Cynthia Chidinma Ugbah | Tender Chimelu | Christy Ihentuge | Tamara Robert | Jasmine Uwemedimoh | Chimelu replaced Ugbah as TNQ |

### Current era: The Nigerian Queen

| Year | The Nigerian Queen | Runner-Up | Runner-Up | Runner-Up | Top Model | Notes |
| Year | The Nigerian Queen | 1st Runner-Up | 2nd Runner-Up | 3rd Runner Up | Top Model | Notes |
| 2016 | Winifred Uduimoh Abuja | Lucia Adamma Udoh | Precious Elemuwa | Momoh Mamunat | Denner Esther Onyedikachi | |
| 2017 | Sandra Essien Akwa Ibom | Precious Marcus | Lilian Robinson | Patience ngeribo | Fuluife Nkechi | |
| 2018 | Rachel Anume Ondo (G) | Jessica Echendu | Fiona Davies | Ezinne Offiah | Not Awarded | |
| 2019 | Ezinne Elizabeth Umeh Imo | Queen Uju Joy Lagos | Ada Joy Agwu Eme Lagos | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | |
| 2020 | Chikaodili Enobong Nna-Udosen Akwa Ibom | Ugoaru Onuoha Imo | Mercy Babjide Ekiti | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | First TNQ winner at Miss Grand International |
| 2021 | Abimbola Islamiat Rita Abayomi Lagos | Queen Joy Omanibe Adamawa | Patience Chenema Christopher Kogi | Not Awarded | Not Awarded | Patience Christopher (2nd runner-up) represented Nigeria at Miss Grand International |
| 2022 | Damilola Bolarinde Lagos | Nnena Odum Anambra | Mavis Chizoba Aruma Yobe | Not Awarded | Damilola Bolarinde Lagos | |
Notes
* 1 2 3 Dethroned/Resigned
* 1 2 3 Originally crowned Runner-Up; took over title after original winner was dethroned/resigned.

#### Winners by State

| State | Titles | Winning Years |
| Lagos | 2 | 2021, 2022 |
| Akwa Ibom | 2 | 2017, 2020 |
| Imo | 1 | 2019 |
| Ondo (G) | 1 | 2018 |
| Abuja | 1 | 2016 |
| Unknown | 7 | 2009 – 2015 |

### Other notable contestants

* Ada Eme - MBGN 2022

## TNQ International Representatives

Color keys
* : Declared as Winner
* : Ended as runner-up or Top 5/6 qualification
* : Ended as one of the finalists or semi-finalists
* : Ended as special awards winner

### Miss Grand International

After 001 Entertainment acquired the rights to send delegates to Miss Grand International, Chikaodili Nna-Udosen became TNQ's first Miss Grand representative in 2020. The following year, TNQ runner-up Patience Christopher became the first Nigerian to place at the international pageant.
| Year | Representative's Name | State | Title | Placement | Note |
| 2022 | Damilola Bolarinde | Lagos | The Nigerian Queen 2022 | Top 20 | Top 8 – Best in National Costume Top 20 – Best in Swimsuit Top 20 – Pre-arrival |
| 2021 | Patience Chenema Christopher | Kogi | 2nd Runner-Up of The Nigerian Queen 2021 | Top 20 | Top 20 – Best in National Costume |
| 2021 | Abimbola Islamiat Rita Abayomi | Lagos | The Nigerian Queen 2021 | Not able to compete | Not able to compete |
| 2020 | Chikaodili Enobong Nna-Udosen | Akwa Ibom | The Nigerian Queen 2020 | Unplaced | Top 15 – Bare Face in 2.30 minutes challenge |

### Miss Eco International

In 2021, TNQ acquired the right to send representatives to Miss Eco International. Queen Joy Omanibe, who had placed second runner-up in TNQ, became the first Nigerian to place at the international pageant.
| Year | Representative's Name | State | Title | Placement | Note |
| 2022 | Queen Joy Omanibe | Adamawa | 1st runner-up of The Nigerian Queen 2021 | Top 10 | |

## Scandal

In 2016, Cynthia Ugbah resigned from her position as reigning TNQ after accusing organisers 001 Entertainment of procuring. In a statement Ugbah claimed "They wanted me to sleep with men for money and then give the money to them to better their own organisation. Apparently that's how it works. They are rogues, thieves, fake, and most of all broke, they need pretty girls to fetch them money." However, the organisation argued these were false claims, and Ugbah had been dethroned due to gross misconduct.