Shatu Garko was crowned the new Miss Nigeria on Friday the 17th of December 2020.
She beat 36 other Nigerian females to the top spot. The contest was done in two major stages, the first stage consisted of 37 contestants from the 36 states of the nation and one from the Federal Capital Territory.
Further screening shrunk the number of contestants to 18, all of who took part in the grand finale held on Friday night at the Landmark Event Center, Lagos.
Shatu Garko was one of the 8 contestants to make it to the final round from the North West region of the country. She was crowned by the immediate outgoing the 43rd Miss Nigeria Etsanyi Tukura from Taraba State.
Nicole Ikot was the first runner-up of the competition while Kasarachi Okoro emerged as the second runner-up.
“Winning this competition means a lot to me. My whole life I have always wanted to be a Miss Nigeria. I’d like to thank Miss Nigeria and its sponsors. I would also like to thank my mum for supporting and loving me,” Ms. Garko said right before receiving her crown.
The decision of whom the crown would fit best was decided upon by a group of 6 judges among which included two Nollywood actresses, Rita Dominic and Michelle Dede. Actor, Eyinna Nwigwe served as the host of the event where guests were treated to a performance by actor and singer-songwriter, Nonso.
Shatu Garko’s winning prize includes the sum of NGN10 million, a brand new car, 1-year residency in a luxury apartment, as well as ambassadorship deals.
Fast Facts About Shatu Garko
At 18 years old, Shatu Garko was the youngest among the contestants this year
She hails from Kano State in Nothern Nigeria.
Garko Is A Hijab Model and had become the first hijab model to land a gig in Nigeria before the competition.
She is also the first hijab-wearing model to win a pageantry competition in the world.
Top on her list of hobbies is horse riding.
Shatu Garko is passionate about proving to the world that religion and culture are not barriers to following one’s dreams and achieving whatever a person sets out to achieve.
‘Tribal Mark’ wins Audience Choice Award at AFRIFF 2024
Tribal Mark,’ film by British-Nigerian rapper, Skepta has won the audience choice award at the 13th edition of the African Film Festival (AFRIFF).
In a groundbreaking moment at this year’s African Film Festival, British-Nigerian rapper Skepta took home the prestigious Audience Choice Award for his debut film Tribal Mark. The award, voted on by festival attendees, is a testament to the rapper’s creative talents and the impact his film had on viewers.
For the British rapper, music was just the beginning of his creative pursuits. Co-directed with Dwight Okechukwu, his partner in production company 1Plus1, Skepta hoped that Tribal Mark would address important social issues surrounding immigrants; mental health and racial prejudice
Being the child of immigrants, when I come across other children of immigrants from around the world, I relate to them a lot. And I see how they struggle to communicate certain things, or how the trauma’s eating away at them, you know?” So I just feel like this film is a nice bit of therapy for people who think or feel like me, Skepta told Variety Magazine in May 2024
Written by Andrew Prince Boateng, Sotonye Ogan, and Dwight Okechukwu, the film follows younger Mark played by Jude Carmichael, who struggles with settling into a new life in London after migrating from his home country, Nigeria.
Made up of a 90% minority ethnic cast, the film features Kola Banjo, Jude Carmichael, Camille Cole, Don Donald, Ciaran Duce, Divine Echeazu-Paul, Joseph Forman, Owen Hute, Dain King-Echeazu, Dasia King-Echeazu, Joshua Ojehonmon, Domas Okechukwu, Mark Oliver, Amelia Parillon, Afeni Prevost, Aayan Ibikunle Shoderu, Skeptt, Gabriel Kwasi Tedeku, Luis Timms, Tegasean Ubiebi, Ay Urunning.
Tagged “an immigrant story told with care,” Tribal Mark was seen by the Nigerian audience at AFRIFF on November 8, 2024.
‘BBNaija’ star Soma accused of abuse by ex-girlfriend
BBNaija star Soma has found himself on the wrong side of the court of public opinion after his ex-girlfriend Hilda accused him of drugging, beating, and tying her up.
Amid the drama surrounding Soma’s split from former housemate Angel Smith, allegations that he cheated on her with Hilda circulated on social media. However, on November 6, 2024, Hilda took to X to debunk those claims and make some allegations.
She wrote, “I’ve been done with Somadina Anyama for the longest and seized communication since July but, he again reached out to me in August when he was being dragged on Twitter, accusing me of being “responsible or behind it.”
Hilda made mention of a bracelet, which she claimed Soma accused her of stealing, alleging that he drugged, beat and tied her up in April 2024.
“I’m just going to put these questions out here for you all to ask him. Ask Somadina Anyama how the “stolen bracelet” got to me in the first place. Ask him what happened at my house in late April this year—how he drugged me, hit me, tied me up and smashed my phone—knowing he’d instilled fear in me over the years and thought that I wouldn’t speak up one day,” she added.
She wrote, “Ask him why he keeps lying to everyone, putting on a two-faced mask of innocence. The list is endless! I’ve kept quiet this long and moved on with my life, so please, you all , direct your attention to @soma_apex”
Social media users rook to Soma’s social media pages demanding answers, but the reality star is yet to react to the accusations.
I Won’t Date A Musician Even In My Dreams – Ayra Star
Nigerian singer Ayra Starr, who has never been in a fully committed relationship, has said that when she finally starts to date, it won’t be someone in the music industry. Speaking with American singer Coco Jones during an interview with Rolling Stone, Coco asked her if she would date someone in the industry.
“In the dream world, it wouldn’t be somebody that is in the industry. Probably just like a billionaire. On a yacht. In Dubai. In a thong,” Ayra Starr replied in between fits of laughter. Her response was a nod to a viral social media sound about living a stress-free, soft life.
On the topic of dating, the Rush singer revealed that her standards for relationships have been set very high.
She said, “I’m so happy I wasn’t really dating before I started music. I didn’t know what I was missing. So now that I waited this long to date people, I have very high standards. If it’s gonna be hard to meet it, it’s gonna be bye-bye. But also, I don’t have time for myself; talk less of a boy.”
During a recent interview with Dazed Magazine in September 2024, the singer expressed her longing for a relationship.
“I want to fall in love. I wrote ‘Lagos Love Story’ about what love would look like if I was,” Ayra Starr shared. While she described herself as a lover girl deep in her heart, she also confessed that she is very single.
Ayra Starr clarified that she has never been in a fully committed relationship. “I’m just very strong-headed about it. I have never been in love…I’ve been in certain situations not situationships!—but I’ve never been in a fully committed relationship.”
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