I’ve got what it takes to win Miss Universe —Danielle Adewusi

Miss Universe Nigeria 2026, Danielle Adewusi, has expressed confidence in her chances at the international competition, saying she believes she has what it takes to make Nigeria proud.

The beauty queen, who described her journey as purposeful, said her confidence stemmed from the preparations she had made and her conviction about the reasons she embarked on the journey.

In an interview with PUNCH Online, she said, “I am extremely confident. I trust in the preparations I have done, I trust in my why, and I have faith. I know I have come this far for a reason. I know I have what it takes, and I know I am doing this for the right reasons.”

Speaking about the message she hopes to pass across to women, Adewusi urged them not to allow societal expectations to limit their identities or ambitions.

“My advice to them is not to allow society to box them into one thing. Society has a way of defining women to be one thing. You can’t erase every aspect of who you are; rather, use it to serve humanity,” she said.

The beauty queen, who described her reign as the ‘Legacy Reign,’ said she hoped her participation would inspire young girls across Nigeria to believe that they could achieve whatever they desired.

Asked what she wanted her legacy to be, she said, “I want to show young girls in Nigeria that it’s possible. They can be whatever they desire to be.”

She also called on Nigerians to support her campaign, stressing that success at an international beauty pageant requires collective national backing.

“An individual doesn’t win an international pageant; a nation does. That’s exactly what the Miss Universe international organisers want to see. They want to see a nation support their delegates. I need your support,” she said.

The 2026 Miss Universe grand finale is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, November 24, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while contestants are expected to begin arriving on November 8.