When Tofunmi Adekola’s name was announced as Miss Cosmo Nigeria, her family and friends erupted in cheers. For many, it was just another crowning moment in Nigeria’s vibrant pageant scene, but for Adekola, it was much more than a crown; it was a responsibility, a platform, and a call to service.
Now, with the title securely hers, she is set to represent Nigeria on the global stage in Vietnam and Thailand, carrying not only the nation’s hopes but also a cause deeply personal to her: sickle cell disorder advocacy.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey before being crowned Miss Cosmo Nigeria?
Before the Miss Cosmo Crown, I was Tofunmi Adekola, the digital marketer, the professional model, the student of mass communication, the sickle cell advocate, and the co-founder of the couples and kids’ social initiative. I am still all those things, except that I just signed out of school 3 days ago, so I’m now on the journey to being a BSC holder. Even before the crown, I’ve had a big dream to be an ambassador of this great country in mind, and now I can clearly see that my life journey has prepared me for this very moment when I have the crown.
What inspired you to go into beauty pageants, and what has your experience been like so far?
I started beauty pageants in primary school. At first, I understood it to just be about being a beautiful girl who is confident enough to catwalk and carry herself well in front of a crowd, but then winning my high school’s beauty pageant gave my life renewed meaning. At that time, I suffered from low self-esteem and doubts, and winning the beauty pageant helped me reinvent myself as much more confident, eloquent, feminine, and a team member and leader. It was at that time I also began to learn about advocacy, and my dream to represent Nigeria internationally began.
How did your family and close friends react when you won the crown?
My family and close friends were very happy for me, and they have also shown me a lot of love and support since I was crowned. It was amazing to see my parents, especially my dad, support me because he didn’t like me engaging in modeling-related activities and literally banned me from modeling when I was younger. I’m happy he now has a change of mind and he is fully on board. I’m forever grateful for the love and support I get from the people around me.
What does being crowned Miss Cosmo Nigeria mean to you personally and professionally?
In every way, it is an honor to be Miss Cosmo Nigeria. I think of this as a way to serve my country and share our values, culture, and the true Nigerian spirit with the world.
In the process of doing this, I will connect with amazing people at home and abroad and develop skills that will help me grow professionally.
Walk us through that moment on stage when your name was announced as the winner—what was going through your mind?
The announcement was made on social media, and I remember feeling so proud of myself. I had finally made my dream of representing Nigeria internationally come true. I was very excited.
The Nigerian pageant industry has seen both successes and criticisms. How would you describe the state of the industry today?
There are so many talented, marketable, and beautiful women in Nigeria waiting to shine bright on the international stage, but the Nigerian beauty pageant industry still has a lot of growing to do. I personally think we need regulatory bodies so that the pageant industry is held to a higher standard.
Some say pageants are no longer relevant in today’s world—what’s your response to that?
Life happens that way sometimes; things reign and then they go out of the spotlight. It’s the cycle of life. I believe to remain relevant, an organization must be remembered for their legacy, the actions they took and how it impacted lives, and the value it offered.
You’ll be representing Nigeria on the global stage in Vietnam and Thailand. How are you preparing for this responsibility?
I will be representing Nigeria in Vietnam from the 28th of November to December 20th. I am preparing my mind and body for this experience. Training with pageant coaches, collaborating with Nigerian creatives, reading books, and watching educational videos to learn about the host country—Vietnam. I am also working on a lot of social media content to promote Nigerian culture.
What do you think makes Nigeria unique in international competitions, and how do you hope to showcase that?
What makes every Nigerian stand out in a competition is the Nigerian spirit. Our work ethic, resilience, leadership abilities, charisma, etc.—these are things I will showcase to the world in Vietnam.
What kind of support do you expect from Nigerians as you embark on this journey?
I will really appreciate the moral support of Nigerians, especially on social media and voting portals, so that everyone will feel the strength of the Giant of Africa. I am also looking to collaborate with Nigerian creatives—photographers, local brands, artists, customers, etc.—to showcase the Nigerian culture.
Your chosen pet project is advocacy for sickle cell disorder. Why did you choose this particular cause?
There is a sickle cell disorder epidemic in Nigeria, and we have to collectively do something about it. Nigeria is the sickle cell disorder capital of the world, with over 150,000 babies born with sickle cell disorder and about 100,000 of them dying before the age of 5 due to lack of quality healthcare and information. The quality of life of so many people being reduced affects the socio-economy of Nigeria, so we all have to actively create awareness about sickle cell disorder.
What specific initiatives or campaigns do you plan to run under this project?
My team at Couples and Kids Social Initiative and I already do free genotype testing and counselling in underserved communities, schools, etc. Apart from that, the goal is to create a community of sickle cell disorder warriors who can easily get access to free medicine, medical advice, and moral support during periods of crisis. This is important because the mental health of sickle cell disorder warriors needs to be heavily prioritized; it is only a healthy mind that has the strong will to fight the sickle cell disorder crisis.
How do you plan to use your platform as Miss Cosmo Nigeria to drive awareness and action?
As Miss Cosmo Nigeria, I now have a bigger voice and more visibility so I can create much more awareness about sickle cell disorder and advocate for people living with sickle cell disorder. I plan to meet and discuss more projects with government officials in a bid to collaborate with them on my projects.
Have you partnered or do you plan to partner with health organizations, NGOs, or government bodies for this advocacy?
Like I mentioned earlier, I really do. Collaborations and joint efforts drive goals to be achieved faster and better. Before now, my NGOs’ couples and kids’ social initiative collaborated regularly with other NGOs in the coalition of sickle cell disorder NGOs in Nigeria to organize the annual red umbrella walk for sickle cell disorder awareness. We aspire to continue that and more.
What message do you have for young Nigerians living with sickle cell disorder?
Stay strong, especially mentally. Take care of yourself as much as you can, find support in God and in those that truly love you because you shouldn’t do this alone, and have a purpose that keeps you hungry for more out of life so that you have the will to keep going.
Outside pageantry and advocacy, what other interests or career goals are you pursuing?
I am currently a digital marketer, a role born from the desire to promote Nigerian brands adequately on an international level, and I hope to do more of that professionally. I’d also like to own my own business in the fashion, beauty, and/or entertainment industry; build a marketable personal brand; and last but not least, join the ministry of tourism, arts, and culture.
Finally, what’s your message to young girls across Nigeria who look up to you and aspire to walk in your footsteps?
Your mindset is the key to unlocking your goals. Just like me, you can do everything you put your mind to if you focus on the goal and work creatively to achieve it.
“For Tofunmi Adekola, the crown is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a mission, one that fuses beauty with purpose and glamour with advocacy.”