In a dazzling display of cultural storytelling, Nigeria’s representative, Tofunmi Adekola, claimed the prestigious Best Carnival Costume award at the 2025 Miss Cosmo Grand Finale & Beauty Music Festival on December 20.
Her winning piece, titled “Omo. Ada Arewa – The Rewoven Mosaic,” was celebrated as a masterpiece of contemporary Nigerian design.
The award was presented by Ms Tran Thi Thanh Thuyen, Director of Operations at Nam A Bank, at the event held in Da Lat, Vietnam. The victory highlights Nigeria’s vibrant fashion and pageantry scene on a global stage, even as the overall title was secured by the United States’ Yolina Lindquist, with the Philippines’ Chelsea Fernandez as first runner-up.
A Costume as Cultural Archive
Adekola’s costume was a profound narrative of Nigerian unity. Designed by Adebayo Adegbe, the Creative Director of Modela Couture, it was conceived as a “woven archive” of the nation’s diverse heritage.
The Foundation: The look began with an Aso-oke and Egungun-inspired skirt, layered for movement and adorned with cowries to invoke Yoruba ancestral spirituality.
A Unified Bodice: The raffia-woven bodice, richly decorated with red coral beads, merged the royal adornment languages of the Benin, Igbo, and Yoruba peoples.
Bridging the North and South: A sculpted raffia basket neck cape, edged with the signature three-colour wool of Northern Nigerian ceremonies, created a symbolic bridge between regional textile arts.
Symbols of Power and Joy: The revered Benin Iyoba head motif symbolised feminine power and guardianship, while a dramatic ruffle paid homage to the energetic style of Calabar’s famous carnival. Golden carnival wings, inspired by the Calabar Carnival’s unifying spirit, completed the majestic silhouette.
The Visionary Designer: Adebayo Adegbe
The creative force behind the winning costume is Adebayo Adegbe, a multi-talented fashion artist and the founder of Modela Couture.
A science graduate from Lagos State University, Adegbe is a trained model, choreographer, and award-winning designer whose true passion lies in creating avant-garde costumes.
His brand, Modela Couture, is renowned for producing top-quality ceremonial regalia for international beauty queens, films, and carnival bands. Adegbe, who describes himself as a “fashion artist,” prioritises uniqueness and draws inspiration from African arts, crafts, and folklore. His elaborate, mixed-media creations have earned him over 45 awards and have been showcased worldwide, cementing his reputation as a king of costume design.
A Night of Global Celebration
While Adekola’s costume stole a dedicated spotlight, the night culminated with the crowning of Miss USA, Yolina Lindquist, as the 2025 Miss Cosmo. The event, which blends pageantry with a music festival, underscores the growing prestige of the Miss Cosmo brand on the global stage.
