Gwenivere Chioma Ifeanyieze, 22, is the official representative of Nigeria at Miss Earth 2020. Philippines-based British journalist James Deakin, 48, will host the historic event, which will be aired on FOXlife and TV5.

Due to the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, reigning Miss Earth 2019 Nellys Pimentel, 23, of Puerto Rico will crown her successor through a virtual coronation night on November 29, 2020. Including Ifeanyieze, 84 candidates are competing for the crown.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization president Hassan Eltigani Malik of Sudan will serve as a judge. He will be joined by violinist Iskandar Widjaja of Germany and Indonesia, restaurateur Michael Ma of Singapore, singer and television host Patricia Zavala of Venezuela, disc jockey, model and singer Natalia Barulich of the United States and Binibining Pilipinas-Universe 1998 Jewel May Lobaton of the Philippines.

Miss Earth 2020 started on September 21, 2020. It is the 20th edition of the annual international beauty pageant, which marks the first time Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Syria are participating.

Prior to the coronation night, the candidates participated in the national costume competition, the evening gown competition, the swimsuit competition, the resort wear competition, the sports wear competition and the talent competition. The candidates were divided into four continental group namely Africa, Asia and Oceania, Europe and the Americas.

In the Africa group, Ifeanyieze won gold in the national costume competition, the evening gown competition and sports wear competition. She also won silver in the swimsuit competition and in the singing category of the talent competition and bronze in the resort wear competition.

This is the first time Miss Earth is held virtually. All of the 19 previous editions were held in the Philippines except for the 10th and 15th editions, which were held in Vietnam and Austria, respectively.

Founded on April 3, 2001 and headquartered in the Philippines, Miss Earth promotes environmental awareness, conservation and social responsibility. It is one of the top four international beauty pageants along with Miss International, Miss World and Miss Universe.

If Ifeanyieze wins a title at Miss Earth 2020, she will be the beauty pageant’s first ever titleholder from Nigeria. Watch her eco-video here: