Agbani Darego was born on December 22, 1982 in Lagos,
Nigeria. Her full names are, Ibiagbanidokibubo Asenite Darego. She is an
indigene of Abonnema in Rivers State of Nigeria. She is the Sixth, out of Eight
Children born by her parents.
Agbani's
father was a custom officer, while her mother,
Inaewo, was a trader in rice business, which made her travel a lot; She
also buys some clothes on her way, which she sells in a boutique,
where her daughter Agbani Darego is said to spend many hours as a little
girl,
perusing pages of foreign fashion magazines on daily bases.
Agbani Darego started her early education at Bereton
Montessory Nursery & primary school. After her primary education, she
gained admission into
Federal Government Girls College (F.G.G.C) Abuloma, Delta
State. When she was just ten year old, Agbani lived in a school hostel. Two
years after she was sent off to a boarding school, her mother died of breast
cancer. She however, later discovered that the reason for sending her off to a
boarding school was to prevent her from the potential trauma that may be
incidental to her being aware of her mother’s ailment. This however prepared
her to learn how to be on her own in the future.
She later proceeded to the University of Port Harcourt, where she
studied Computer Science for just a period of one year before she ventured into
beauty pageant.
In the year 2001, Agbani Darego won Most Beautiful Girl in
Nigeria (MBGN), during the same year, she also emerged Miss Universe, a
competition, held in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
In 2002, Agbani Darego relocated to London. During her stay
in London, she signed modelling contracts with Top Modeling Agencies and her
pictures began to grace world's front line magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie
Claire, Allure, Trace, Stitch, Cosmopolitan, Essence magazine etc.
Agbani Darego has also featured in several beauty and
fashion advertisements including Avon, Christian Dior beauty, Sephora, Target,
Macy’s etc. to name a few, working with respected designers like Oscar de la
Renta, Marc Bouwer, Tommy Hillfiger, Ralph Lauren, Gianfranco Ferre, and
eminent Photographers including Annie Leibovitz, Markus Klinko, and Richard
Burbridge.
Agbani Darego later got admission in the prestigious New
York University (NYU) where she studied Psychology. In 2011, Agbani Darego was
announced as the brand ambassador for two of Nigeria’s leading brands – Arik
Air and Nature’s Gentle Touch.
In 2013, she founded AD by Agbani Darego, a retail
clothing brand. She currently works with Ford Models NY.