Since 2014, the Miss Nigeria USA pageant has given Nigerian women in the diaspora a platform to represent their country and promote cultural values, leadership, and commitment to excellence.
For years, the competition was held in New York City. Still, four years after the COVID-19 pandemic, the Miss Nigeria USA organization changed its location to Houston and crowned Udeme Ikaiddi as the winner in 2023.
Ikaiddi is an experienced event and hospitality professional and entrepreneur who is seamlessly weaving her passion for community service, modeling, and public speaking into the world of pageantry.
The beauty queen stands as a representative for Black women who don’t fit the “societally acceptable” standards of mainstream beauty in traditional pageants. And rightfully so, the pageant’s theme was “Beauty with a Purpose,” highlighting the importance of inclusion and the individual narratives that define each woman.
The Defender spoke with Ikaiddi to learn more about her work in the city and the importance of supporting Black pageant systems.
Defender: How did you get into pageantry?
Udeme Ikaiddi: It started when my older sister and I watched Miss Universe, which was televised when we were much younger. But we always watched the pageant in awe more than inspiration or anything. We never really felt like we could be on those types of stages. So as I grew up, I got into modeling. I got into a debate. I was in a speaking debate in high school, doing different student leadership positions. When I finally got into the [University of South Florida], I was given the opportunity to produce the Mr. And Miss Africa Pageant at USF. So, after producing the pageant a couple of times and then being asked to help produce other pageants for other student organizations that I was a part of, some of the people I was coaching were like, “Why don’t you do a pageant? You’re out here showing us all these things and saying all this stuff. Why don’t you do one?” So I did my first pageant in 2019, and I won, but then I did another pageant in 2021, and I did not win. Then, I did another pageant in 2022. And I definitely didn’t win that one at all, either. I had been trying to find myself and my niche in pageantry because the industry is quite vast. Some people don’t recognize that. But I found Miss Nigeria, USA, in 2019 after I did my first pageant. And I had just been thinking about doing it for four years. I have had this in my heart. And then, when the opportunity presented itself, I literally just put everything into it. I put my all into it and was blessed to be awarded this title.
Defender: How has your experience in pageantry shaped your career and life perspective?
Ikaiddi : Goal-wise, the most important thing I could say has happened since I won is being introduced to more people in our community. So, not just the Nigerian community in Texas, but being introduced to people in the Black community and being connected to different organizations to speak on women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, and mental health awareness. Being given these opportunities is definitely the best part about having this title.
Defender: How important is it for our communities to support Black pageant systems?
Ikaiddi : I love the fact that there are pageants for Black women. Because it wasn’t too long ago that pageants would not allow Black women to compete. It wasn’t too long ago that you had state and national directors who would openly say to their staff, we are not crowning a Black woman. Crystal Stewart, the previous owner of the Miss USA system, was the last Black woman to win Miss Texas USA. She won in 2008. If the traditional pageant system doesn’t spotlight our women, the Black pageant system will. So many girls see themselves as the women who contest in pageantry, and that is especially true for Black girls. Black pageantry deserves a spot in history and in our future because of the purpose behind it.
Defender: What initiatives or projects are you focusing on during your reign as Miss Nigeria USA?
I will highlight other nonprofits in the United States focusing on women’s empowerment, youth empowerment, and mental health awareness. I’ve already worked with a couple of nonprofits in the Austin area to attend their events and help with Read Across America, which is happening in March. Also, different events during Black History Month. There’s a lot of ground to cover attending events and shining a light on my title and my pageant system.
In Nigeria, I’m actually gonna be there sometime this year. Everything hasn’t been solidified yet, so I can’t say when. But I’ll be there to host a couple of events for young women all over Nigeria. I’m going to be hitting about two or three different cities while I’m there, hosting youth events, trying to empower as many women as possible, connecting with other pageant queens, and really shining a light on the importance of sisterhood and female unity, and spreading the message behind mental health awareness. We need to be aware of our mental health and how that helps us physically.
Defender: How do you balance your responsibilities as Miss Nigeria USA with your professional career?
Ikaiddi : I’m in hospitality, so I’ve worked in hotels for the past eight years. I travel a lot, and attending different events can be difficult. But I work with my manager to ensure I’m not missing out on any time working. I am sometimes given the opportunity to work from home, complete certain tasks, or attend certain meetings from home or wherever I’m traveling. Sales, events, and hospitality can be really tough and can be very grueling. So when I need to be in the office, I’m definitely there. But if I have a little bit of downtime or if we’re not too busy, I’m definitely gonna capitalize on that opportunity to travel somewhere and do what I can as a queen.
Defender: Nigeria is a diverse country. What is one thing that makes you proud about your Akwa Ibom culture?
Ikaiddi: It’s the home of my mother and father. They shaped me and instilled the culture in me. What I love about my culture is the food. We are the best cooks [Not up for debate]. I love our creativity. Every dish tells a story. I love the difference between all the cultures in Nigeria. It’s cool to go next door to another tribe and learn something new. Nigerians are truly a unique group of people.
Defender: What’s your goal after your reign comes to an end?
Ikaiddi : After passing on the title, I want to continue working towards being a part of hospitality and tourism in Africa. So, we are assisting in shaping how we market ourselves, tourism-wise, and how the rest of the world sees us because we have strong, beautiful, intelligent representatives of African countries worldwide.
It’s said that if your company does not have a Nigerian in its upper ranks, then your company will fail within the next five years. I don’t know who said that. We’re smart, we’re amazing. Africans, in general, our entire diaspora. We are movers and shakers. I’m passionate about trying to figure out a way to market ourselves in a way that will benefit us but also change how the world sees Africa because we are not how the world sees us right now. We are so much better than all these assumptions and stereotypes that like to fly around. I want to be one of the people making moves in tourism for the betterment of our beautiful mother Africa and the diaspora. So that’s my next step after I pass on this crown.
