On Friday night in the busy city of Lagos, 18 year old model Shatu Garko was crowned the 44th Miss Nigeria beating dozens of other beauties to snatch the coveted crown.

Her emergence as Queen is not altogether strange, what is however news is who the young model is and the hurdles she crossed to be Queen.

For the first time in 44 years, a young lady who covered her hair through out the show is winning the crown, leaving many to wonder how she did it.

Shatu is a hijab wearing model from Kano state with a simple lifestyle, she loves horse riding and is passionate about proving that religion and culture are not hinderances to achieving one’s goal.

Well, she did prove that by winning the pageant despite her religious beliefs, despite her morals and despite her culture.

Meet Shatu Garko, the first Hijab wearing Queen!