At 89, first ever Miss Nigeria, Grace Oyelude, still rocks!
Grandmother Grace Atinuke (born November 16, 1931) is known to be the first ever Miss Nigeria, having won the pageant — also the maiden edition — in 1957.
Though she hails from Kogi State, Grandma Oyelude was born in Kano to James Adeleye Olude and Marthan Dantu, who both hail from Isanlu, present day Kogi State.
The story of how she became the first Miss Nigeria is as riveting as her enigmatic personality, even in her advanced old age.
Miss Nigeria started in 1957 as a photo contest, whereby contestants posted photographs of themselves to The Daily Times headquarters in Lagos.
Finalists were shortlisted, and successful finalists were invited to compete in the live final at the Lagos Island Club.
Then, the Miss Nigeria contest did not include a swimsuit competition.
Then, Oyelude was working at UAC when she represented the then Northern region. After winning the contest, she travelled to England where she studied Nursing. Within months of gaining admission to the School of Nursing in Ashford, she was crowned Miss Nigeria.
She tells her story: “I was living in Kano then. My brother saw the advertisement in the newspapers and advised me to go to Lagos for an interview to be selected as a Miss Nigeria contestant.
“He applied, and the result was that I was supposed to be in Lagos for the Miss Nigeria contest.
“I was working in the UAC then, and they also were also involved in the pageant.
“The following day, they got me on a plane to Lagos and that was it.”
Oyelude currently holds the chieftaincy titles Iyaolu of Isaluland and Iyalode of Okunland. She has many grandchildren.
INTERVIEWS
The Miss Nigeria story: ‘My brother applied for the pageant for me’ -First Miss Nigeria, Atinuke Grace Oyelude
Now 89, Atinuke Grace Oyelude never believed she would be crowned Miss Nigeria when she contested in 1957 as there was no preparation whatsoever. Still with flawless look and poise, Mama Nigeria pageant was thrilled at the 39th edition of Miss Nigeria. In this chat with , Mrs. Oyelude narrated her journey to becoming the queen in 1957 and sundry issues.
What is the difference between Miss Nigeria then and now?
Then beauty pageant were really beauty pageants, the whole prestige was around it. Looking at that time now there are so many things you emulate and so many things you bring back.
What was the pageant like?
To be honest, I only experienced one Miss Nigeria pageant since I was crowned.
So you didn’t crown the next person?
I was not even in the country. This is the first time that I have actually met one.
What was the experience like, the process before the big day?
We did what was expected of us, I was living in Kano. I have always been repeating the same thing, my brother saw it in the papers that I had to go to Lagos because I had been selected as one of the Miss Nigeria to be interviewed in Lagos. So, he said go to Lagos, I had not applied to be a Miss Nigeria, then he saw it in an advert that anyone who wants to be a Miss Nigeria to apply, so he applied, and the result came that I was supposed to be in Lagos for the Miss Nigeria completion. I was working with UAC then, and they also were involved in the pageant. The following day, they got me on plane to Lagos and that was it.
What happened later?
When we arrived in Lagos, there was no accommodation. So we all had to look for our private accommodation. We were later asked to come to the Daily Times office.
We all met, about 200 of us. I was the only one from Kano. We were interviewed, I told them I flew for the first time. We met and they told us to come back three weeks later. We went back to the Daily Times office. There was no much interview that time.
What were the questions asked then?
They asked simple questions like where you come from, our background; funny enough, they didn’t ask us why we want to become a Miss Nigeria, because I wouldn’t have known what to say.
After the interviews and other process; what eventually happened at the grand finale?
On the day of the Miss Nigeria proper which was on Saturday in 1957, we met at Lagos Island Club. We were offered drinks and someone told us we would be asked to go to walk around.
There was music by late Bobby Benson. We went round the first time, the second time and the third time. Later they asked us to go and sit down.
We sat down, later Lady Alakija and a lawyer came and left. However, after a short while, they made the announcement of the new queen which I was but I didn’t hear until someone touched me that I was announced the winner.
I was taken up to the stage and that was how I became Miss Nigeria and that night, I had to find my way home. My brother was a broadcaster, he was on duty when they told him and he said my sister has won.
What did you think the criteria were?
I don’t even know what they were looking for and majority of us didn’t know.
Were there any benefit or did you get to win anything?
I said after the Miss Nigeria, I went straight to work. I was given 200 pounds. Then that was a lot of money, a wardrobe with four beautiful cotton dresses and a trip to London.
Part of the things you were taught in the pageant, do you remember posing for the camera?
Camera!! If you check most of the pictures, myself and other contestants stood normally in photographs not the regular posing that is the order of the day now.