Bianca Ojukwu opens up on pageantry, temptations, success

By Tosin Brown

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has shared how she was once tempted to abandon her education for a career in pageantry.

Speaking at the Nigerian Women’s Day event on the sidelines of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Bianca noted that making money at a young age—especially while still in school—can be a major temptation.

Bianca, whose father was a former governor in Nigeria, explained that as a young woman, she wanted to explore the world, and pageantry provided her with that opportunity. However, despite the allure of early fame and fortune, she was wise enough not to abandon her education.

Emphasizing the importance of education in every woman’s life, she recounted her journey into pageantry and the challenges she faced balancing it with her studies.

“I started off as a young girl who just wanted to see the world,” she said.

“I remember sitting in the common room with other young girls. Back then, we would watch Top of the Pops, music videos, Miss World, Miss Universe, and be captivated more by the exotic backdrops than anything else.

“I just wanted to travel and see the world, and what better way to do that than through pageantry?

“So, I entered my first pageant and won. But as a student, I couldn’t accept the offer that came with it—a one-year modeling contract in Tokyo.

“Of course, my parents had no idea. They sent me to school for education, not to participate in beauty pageants, so I had to turn it down.

“When I later competed in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, it rendered me homeless for a month. Naturally, African fathers can be strict—mine was livid with rage.

“But after winning other international pageants like Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental, he eventually came to terms with it.

“The real challenge was that once you start earning money early, the biggest temptation is to leave school.

“At the time, I was a law student living in a hostel with six other students, struggling with no water and basic amenities. Going back to school to complete my law degree was tough, but it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

“I believe young women need to understand the power of education.”