Grace Atinuke Oyelude, Nigeria’s first-ever Miss Nigeria, has turned 93, marking nearly seven decades since she made history as the country’s pioneering beauty queen in 1957.
The trailblazer, who hails from Kogi State, celebrated her 93rd birthday quietly with family and friends, drawing tributes from admirers and cultural institutions across the country. The Miss Nigeria Organization, in a statement on Thursday, described her as a “symbol of grace, resilience, and national pride whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Nigerian women.”
Born on November 16, 1931, in Sabon Gari, Kano State, Oyelude was a nurse and midwife before she entered the beauty contest that would change her life. She emerged winner of the maiden Miss Nigeria pageant at the age of 26 after submitting her photograph to the competition organizers — a process conducted entirely by mail in the pre-digital era.
As the first titleholder, she received a £200 cash prize and a trip to London, setting a precedent for future queens. Her victory came at a time when Nigeria was on the verge of independence, and she quickly became a symbol of elegance and modern Nigerian womanhood.
After her reign, Oyelude pursued a distinguished nursing career, training at the School of Nursing in Ashford, Kent, in the United Kingdom, before returning home to serve at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. She later rose through the ranks to become a senior matron and contributed immensely to the growth of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
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Despite her fame, Oyelude remained a private and modest figure, often shunning the limelight. Over the years, she has been celebrated for her pioneering role in Nigerian culture and her lifelong dedication to service.
In recent tributes, social media users and cultural enthusiasts praised her for breaking barriers and paving the way for women in pageantry, healthcare, and public life. “Grace Oyelude didn’t just win a crown; she opened doors,” said the Miss Nigeria Organization on X (formerly Twitter).
As she clocks 93, many Nigerians see her life as a testament to beauty, intellect, and discipline — qualities that continue to define the Miss Nigeria legacy nearly 70 years after her historic win.