Veso Golden Oke
Veso Golden Oke | |
|---|---|
 Veso Golden after being crowned Marchioness Global at Miss Trans Global 2020. | |
| Born | |
| Citizenship | [1] |
| Occupations | Model, Actress, Activist, entrepreneur |
Veso Golden Oke (born March 3, 1994) is a Nigerian transgender model, make-up artist and hairstylist.[2][3] In 2019, she became the first openly transgender woman to compete in a beauty pageant in Africa.[4][5][6] Then, she was crowned Miss Start International on October 15, 2023, in Santana Susanna, Barcelona, Spain.[7]
Early life
Oke was born to a Nigerian father and a Ghanaian mother.[6] She was raised Anglican.[6]
As a child, Oke was feminine and has always felt that she was a woman; never identifying as a gay man.[1] She has recalled that at age 8, she used to pray she would wake up in a girl's body.[3] At age 14, she learned online about transgender identity and came to terms with her own identity.[6] Although initially when she came out her family thought "the devil had taken over her," her parents soon became supportive.[6][1]
Career
In 2014, Oke left Nigeria and moved to Ghana.[6] There, she began working as a model and mentor to models in Accra.[1]
In August 2019, Oke competed in Miss Europe Continental, a beauty pageant being held in Ghana.[4]
Personal life
By 2018 Oke was on hormone replacement therapy.[1]
Before coming out as transgender, Oke dated women in the hope that being sexual with them might help "kill [her] feminine side". She has not shared anything about her current relationship status, only that she is interested in dating men.[8]
On her mother's advice, Oke left Nigeria for Ghana following the 2014 anti-LGBT+ law.[8]
She hopes that one day, Nigeria will recognize trans people for who they are, and that they will gain more visibility and acceptance.[9]
See also
- Bobrisky – Nigerian transgender woman (born 1991)
- Jay Boogie – Nigerian transgender woman (born 1998)
- Miss Sahhara – Nigerian beauty queen and LGBTQ advocate
- Noni Salma – Nigerian transgender woman
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Nigerian-born Ghanaian Trans model: 'I fight every day to look more feminine'". NoStringsNG – Voice of LGBTQ+ Nigeria. 2018-01-26. Archived from the original on 23 August 2019. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- ↑ "Trans women speak on Western influence and being transgender in Nigeria". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- 1 2 "I'm a woman with shrinking, non-functional penis – Ghanaian transgender". GhanaWeb. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- 1 2 "Nigerian model becomes the first trans contestant in a beauty pageant". NoStringsNG – Voice of LGBTQ+ Nigeria. 2019-08-08. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- ↑ "Veso Golden Oke becomes first transwoman to contest in beauty pageant in Africa". India Times. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Nigerian Transgender To Compete In Ghana Beauty Pageant -". The Herald. 2019-08-22. Archived from the original on 2023-11-30. Retrieved 2023-11-30.
- ↑ International, Miss Trans Star. "Miss Trans Star International". Miss Trans Star International. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- 1 2 "Nigerian Transgender Veso Golden Oke, he is taking drugs to grow breasts". YabaLeftOnline. 2018-04-10. Archived from the original on 25 February 2026. Retrieved 2025-12-04.
- ↑ Nigeria, Guardian (2019-03-27). "Trans women speak on Western influence and being transgender in Nigeria". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-12-04.