Dr Danielle Adewusi, who holds the title of Miss Universe Nigeria 2026, has arrived in Puerto Rico to take part in the 75th Miss Universe contest. Supporters in Nigeria can vote for her over the internet. Public voting is already open. Her bid features three important dates before the final on 24 November.
The news of Danielle Adewusi Miss Universe 2026 preparations came on Monday, 9 November, through the official Instagram page of Miss Universe Nigeria, as the Peoples Gazette tells it. BellaNaija says she landed in San Juan to meet almost 120 fellow contestants. They will take part in the opening competition stages, the showcase of national outfits and practice sessions.
How to vote for Danielle Adewusi Miss Universe
Miss Universe Nigeria organisers have asked the public to support Danielle Adewusi Miss Universe hopes online. They urged Nigerians to vote in the Fan Vote/Favourite and Beyond the Crown categories, noting that the voting portal was open and every vote counted.
The call matters because these categories give supporters at home a direct role in her campaign while the main competition unfolds in San Juan. Voting for Danielle Adewusi Miss Universe fans is open now, so there is no need to wait for pageant week to begin.
Key dates to watch
The Miss Universe Organisation announced on 19 October that contestants would begin arriving on 8 November for rehearsals, cultural activities and tourism experiences. Here is the calendar that follows:
- 11 November: official welcome event at Aguadilla Bay, which opens pageant week.
- 21 November: the National Costume Show.
- 22 November: the Preliminary Competition, where delegates walk in swimwear and evening gowns hoping to reach the semifinals.
- 24 November: San Juan hosts the grand finale, with the pageant's closing night.
These details come from HOLA! USA, which also describes this as the 75th-anniversary “Diamond” edition. The winner will succeed Mexico's Fátima Bosch, the reigning Miss Universe.
A field of up to 120 countries
The scale of the contest is considerable. Legit.ng reports that the Miss Universe Organisation has confirmed that up to 120 countries and territories will be represented. The final will be held at the same San Juan venue where the preliminary week builds towards.
For Nigerian viewers, the preliminary show on 22 November is the first big marker. It is where the field is narrowed towards the semifinals, so it is the night to watch before the final two days later.
Who is Danielle Adewusi?
Danielle won the Nigerian title on 27 September at the Balmoral Hall of the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. Representing Lagos State, she faced 19 other contestants. Legit.ng notes that the title was placed on her head at that event. According to Pulse Nigeria, it was Guy Murray-Bruce, president of Silverbird Group and national director of Miss Universe Nigeria, who put the tiara on her as the evening closed.
The win carries a family echo. Her mother, Tonia Okogbenin, represented Nigeria at Miss Universe 1991, according to her Wikipedia entry.
A medical doctor and a graduate of King's College London, she has an MBBS as well as a Psychology degree with top-class honours, BellaNaija says. At 29, she is one of the contestants taking part under the widened entry criteria, since the Miss Universe Organisation scrapped its upper age limits.
Advocacy and a record of competing
Danielle founded Scrub the Stigma. Legit.ng describes it as an advocacy initiative dedicated to women's health education and breaking down the stigma surrounding women's health issues. It is expected to be central to her Miss Universe platform. BellaNaija adds that the initiative works to expand healthcare access and raise awareness across Nigeria and the UK.
The stage is familiar ground for her. Vanguard says she finished among the best five at Miss Universe Great Britain before coming back to enter the contest in Nigeria. It also says she is a classically trained pianist and cellist. BellaNaija adds that she went through catwalk training abroad, in Thailand.
What happens next
Over the coming days, Danielle will take part in rehearsals, cultural activities and the welcome event at Aguadilla Bay alongside the other delegates. The costume show and preliminary competition follow in the final week, leading to the finale on Tuesday, 24 November.
Until then, the practical step for supporters is simple. The voting portal is open, and organisers have said every vote counted in the Fan Vote/Favourite and Beyond the Crown categories.
