Shatu Garko, an 18-year-old hijabi from Kano State was enthroned the 44th Miss Nigeria on Friday, December 17, 2021.
She is the youngest contestant and also the first Muslim to win the Miss Nigeria pageant since its establishment in 1957.
In addition to the crown are the sum of N10m, a one-year residency at a luxury apartment, a brand new car and brand ambassadorship opportunities.
Pior to her enthronement, Garko said, “Winning this competition means a lot to me. 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.”
She also revealed that she loves riding horses and is passionate about proving that religion and culture are not barriers to following one’s dreams.
According to the organisers, thousands of applications were submitted before it was pruned down to the top 37 and an additional three wildcard semi-finalists. Members of the public were also given a chance to contribute to the process of choosing the 21 finalists who made it into the Miss Nigeria Bootcamp, which was further cut down to the top 18 finalists.
