Photos: Hijabi Model Shatu Garko Crowned 44th Miss Nigeria 2021

Eighteen-year-old Shatu Garko was on Friday night crowned the 2021 Miss Nigeria at a beauty pageant held amid glamour and glitz in Lagos.

The beauty Queen made history as the first Hijab-wearing model to become Miss Nigeria.

BELOW ARE ESSENTIAL THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HER

She hails from Kano State and was the youngest contestant in the competition this year.

She loves riding horses and is passionate about proving that religion and culture are not barriers to following one’s dreams and achieving whatever a person sets out to achieve.

She represented the North West region of Nigeria in the beauty contest.

The young queen beat 17 others to clinch the crown.

She succeeded Etsanyi Tukura, a native of Taraba State, winner of the 43rd miss Nigeria beauty pageant in 2019.

Garko was awarded the cash prize of N10million, a luxury apartment, a car and ambassadorship.

Recently she celebrated becoming the first hijab model to land a modelling job in Nigeria.

The call for applications commenced in October. By December 7, over a thousand applicants were filtered  down to 18 semi-finalists who made it to the Miss Nigeria boot camp.

The grand finale was held in Landmark Centre, Victoria Island Lagos. The event was graced by several celebrities, fashionistas, designers and industry gurus.

The judging panel consisted of Rita Dominic, Lanre Da Silva, Aisha Abba Kyari and 2013 Miss Nigeria winner, Ezinne Akudo amongst other notable names. All 18 contestants stepped out in identical shimmering layered, tasselled dresses to start the event. Shatu paired her look with a black turtleneck shirt in modest fashion, topped with a turban.

Shatu received her crown in a Rikatobyme nude coloured dress, covered in shimmering green and turquoise embellishments with large gemstones adorning the collar. She topped the look with a matching turban and dangling gemstone earrings.

Eighteen contestants started the night, but after an impressive display of grace, beauty, talent and intelligence, Shatu was finally crowned the winner. Nicole Ikot emerged as the first runner up, and Kasarachi Okoro emerged as the second runner up.

Shatu succeeds Etsanyi Takura, the Taraba born beauty and 43rd Miss Nigeria 2019. Besides the coveted crown, Shatu was awarded the winning prize of ₦10 million, an ambassadorship deal, a luxury apartment and a car. A remarkable win for the 18-year-old.