Kano State Hisbah Board aka Sharia Police have said they will invite for questioning the parents of the 44th Miss Nigeria, Shatu Garko, over their daughter’s participation in the beauty pageant.
Garko, 18, set a record by becoming the first hijab-wearing model to win the Miss Nigeria pageant since its inception in 1957.
Hisbah boss Sheik Ibn Sina told BBC News Pidgin that participating in such beauty contests is illegal in Islam.
“We (Hisbah) have confirmed that Shatu Garko is a Muslim from Kano state and her parents come from Garko Local Government Area. Kano is a Sharia state and this is why we would not allow the matter to pass.
“We will invite the parents to talk to them about the actions of their daughter and the fact that what she did is illegal in Islam in case they don’t know so that she would not continue in that path and also stop other girls from copying her,” he said.
Beauty contests such as Miss Nigeria have contestants dress in swimwear and other revealing outfits.
Garko was crowned the 44th Miss Nigeria after beating 17 other finalists on Friday, December 17, 2022, in Lagos. She was also the youngest contestant, winning N10m, a one-year residency at a luxury apartment, brand new car, and brand ambassadorship opportunities.
The new Miss Nigeria revealed in an interview with PUNCH how she and her mother convinced her father to allow her participate in the contest.
She said, “My mum has always been my biggest supporter so convincing her to let me do this was not difficult. However, my dad was not on board.
“He was worried about me being forced to take off my hijab, or wear a swimsuit, or just being treated differently because of the hijab. My mum and I had to do an entire presentation to convince him. But after that point, I had his full support.”
Garko said she simply ignored critics who said she would bring Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen into the brand by participating.
