| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
| Born | Bianca Odinakachukwu Onoh |
|---|---|
| Title(s) | MBGN 1988, Miss Intercontinental 1989 |
| Major competition(s) |
Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 1988, Miss Intercontinental 1989 |
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu (born Bianca Odinaka Onoh) is a Nigerian businesswoman, former lawyer, and government official, recently appointed as Nigeria's Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs . [1]
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The daughter of former Anambra governor Christian Onoh, Odumegwu-Ojukwu was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant in 1988, but reigned for most of 1989. She represented her country in Miss Universe, and would later win Miss Intercontinental 1989,[2]. The same year she was named Miss Congeniality at the now defunct Miss Charm International in Russia where she was also a semi-finalist. [3] However, Odumegwu-Ojukwu has since said in an interview she had only agreed to take part in pageants after being persuaded by her sister Lilian, and was not prepared for the publicity.[2]
In 1989, it was revealed that she was dating former Biafran president and Ikemba of Nnewi Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a childhood friend of her father who is said to have been her godfather at her christening and was over thirty years her senior.[4] Their controversial romance was a national talking point in the early nineties,[5] and reports had suggested that she was dethroned after her romance was exposed, as MBGN winners are discouraged from having serious relationships during their tenure.[6] The pressure of being in the public eye became unbearable, and she decided to step down. Her main concern, she stated, was completing her university education.[2] She was also disowned by her father, although he is said to have forgiven her before his death in 2009.[4]
After graduating from Law School, Odumegwu-Ojukwu briefly practised the profession before quitting, and now divides her time between her home, her cosmetics business Bianca Blend in Enugu, and her interior decorating outfit Nourobella.[7] Although she had stated in interviews her disdain for modelling in the past, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has fronted an advertising campaign for her products. She is in charge of the non-government organisation Hope House Trust, centered towards rehabilitating juvenile offenders in Enugu.[7] [8] In 2011, she was appointed Special Assistant on Diaspora Affairs by president Goodluck Jonathan. [9]
A Law graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Odumegwu-Ojukwu was married to the Ikemba until his death in 2011; the couple have children together. Of her marriage, she admits that while she was happy to be married to her him, she would not encourage her daughter to marry the same way.[10] she now resides in Nigeria.
| Preceded by Omasan Buwa |
MBGN MBGN 1988/1989 |
Succeeded by Regina Askia Usoro (Replacement) |