From Beauty Queen To Homeless: Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu’s Shocking Revelation

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, Ojukwu emphasized the vital role education plays in the life of every woman. She shared how she refused to let her privileged background distract her during her youth.

Ojukwu recalled that she was homeless for a month after participating in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, as her father was extremely upset with her decision.

Reflecting on her journey, Ojukwu said, “I began as a young girl eager to explore the world. I used to sit in the common room with other girls, watching music videos and beauty pageants like Miss World and Miss Universe. I was fascinated by the exotic settings, and I wanted to see the world. Entering a pageant seemed like the best way to do that. I started by participating in a pageant I won, but as a student, I couldn’t accept the offer that came with it, including a year-long modeling contract in Tokyo, because my parents didn’t send me to school for that. I had to pass on the opportunity. Later, I took part in the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria competition, which left me homeless for a month due to my father’s anger. However, after winning other titles like Miss Africa and Miss Intercontinental, my father eventually accepted it.”

Ojukwu continued, “One of the toughest challenges was being tempted to leave school after earning money so early. As a law student living in a hostel with six other students, with no water or amenities, it was hard to focus on finishing my education. But completing my law degree remains one of the best decisions I’ve made. I encourage young women to understand the immense power of education.”

The minister, whose father was a former governor, also shared that after her pageant career, she shifted her focus to advocacy and founded the Hope House Trust NGO.