Agbani Darego

Agbani Darego Biography / Profile

Agbani Asenite Darego was born on December 22nd, 1982 in Lagos, Nigeria, to Asenite Sikibo Darego and Inaewo Darego of Abonnema in Akuku Toru local government area of Rivers state. She is a model and the first African to win the Miss World.

Agbani Darego Age

Agbani Darego is 41 years old.

Agbani Darego Early Life

Born in Lagos, Darego's parents moved to Port Harcourt, Rivers state where she attended Bereton Montessori Nursery and Primary School. At ten, she was sent to a boarding school in a bid to shield her from her mother who had become very ill with breast cancer. Darego’s mother died two years later, and her daughter has spoken of how the loss prepared her for the future. As a teenager, Darego longed to be a model, and despite her conservative father’s wishes, she auditioned for the M-Net Face of Africa modelling competition, but was not chosen as a finalist. Shortly after finishing her secondary education, she attended the University of Port Harcourt, where she studied computer science.

Agbani Darego Career

2001 was the most successful year for the young Nigerian model as Agbani Darego was crowned the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria. A few months later she was chosen as a contestant for the Miss Universe. Moreover, she became the first Nigerian in history that was in top 10 of the most beautiful women of the universe. It should be mentioned that she was the only contestant that wore a maillot instead of a traditional bikini during the swimsuit contest. In November of the same year, Nigeria was proud to have Agbani Darego Miss World. Her victory was a success of Nigeria and its beauties. According to the rules of the contest, she started her goodwill trips.

In November 2001, she became the first native African to claim the Miss World title, although past winners such as Penelope Coelen and Anneline Kriel are South African, they are of European descent, and Antigone Costanda, who represented Egypt in 1954 is of Greek heritage. Darego’s victory was widely welcomed in her home country, and her one-year tenure included goodwill trips and scheduled appearances on behalf of the pageant, and a national honour of MFR. Darego left the University of Port Harcourt due to her busy work schedule and moved to New York where she was signed to Next Model Management and Ford Models she enrolled at New York University where she studied Psychology, graduating in May 2012.

Before her winning of the Miss World, she featured in the print commercials for boutique chain Collectables. Her stint at Miss Universe provided her new connections in the super model Industry. Naomi Campbell invited her to participate in Frock`n`Roll charity fashion show in Barcelona. That fashion show provided her a ticket to the Donald Trump`s management deals with modeling companies all over the USA. Shortly after winning in the Miss World, she represented Next Model Management in London and Paris.

She also signed a three-years contract with L`Oreal. It means that she is the second Black women to accomplish this thing after Vaness Williams. She also modeled many other brands, like Macy`s, Target, Sephora, Christian Dior and Avon. She also made her step on the cover of the Vogue Magazine with helping of brilliant photographer Annie Leibovitz. There are other popular fashion magazines, where she appeared, like Essence, Cosmopolitan, Stitch, Trace, Allure, Marie Claire, and Elle. Agbani Darego worked with numerous designers, like Gianfranco Ferre, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Marc Bouwer and Oscar de la Renta.

In Nigeria, she appeared in an advertising campaign for Gentle Touch with another model Oluchi. Agbani Darego also served as the face of Arik Air. Her photos also appeared in TW Magazine, True Love, Genevieve, ThisDay Style, Mania and Complete Fashion. She has also served as a judge for numerous modeling and fashion competitions, like Elite Model Look Nigeria 2012 and 2014, Mr. Scotland 2002, Miss England 2002 and Miss World 2014. In 2010 she launched a style and fashion reality show Stylogenic on Nigerian television, and three years later announced her denim range, AD by Agbani Darego, which includes jeans, dresses, sunglasses and bags.

Agbani Darego Personal Life

On April 8th, 2017 Derego married her longtime boyfriend Ishaya Danjuma, son of Billionaire General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma in Marrakesh, Morocco. Her net worth is estimated at $3.7 million.