Shatu Garko, a Hisbah model and the winner of Miss Nigeria 2021, has responded to accusations about her participation in this year’s edition of the beauty contest. Since the pageant’s inception in 1957, the 18-year-old model has been the first hijab-wearing participant to win the coveted title. Her participation in the competition, however, has elicited conflicting reactions due to her Muslim religious background.
The beauty pageant is anti-Islam, according to the Kano state hisbah board, which has announced preparations to question Garko’s parents for permitting her participation in the competition.
In a chat with BBC Pidgin, Shatu slammed her critics, saying “Nigerians like judging people, many people said the president paid for me to get the crown, others said the state governor paid for me to get the crown, there are those who also claimed my parents paid Miss Nigeria but that’s not the truth.
On Hisbah claim Shatu said she is yet to get an invitation.
” No one has called me but I have gotten so many comments that I was naked and I was doing the wrong thing . Some people that are not even Muslim said that am spoiling the Miss Nigeria culture . Well the crown is already on my head there is nothing I can do.