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In a world where beauty queens are often shaped by flashy agencies or overnight fame, one Nigerian coach is slowly, steadily, and purposefully changing the game.
Coach Jonnybee, born Bamilosin John Opeyemi, is a 27-year-old international pageant coach based in Lagos, Nigeria. Known for his unique mix of humility, strategy, and passion, Jonnybee is building a growing legacy by training African pageant queens to shine with more than just looks.
He hails from Ekiti State, speaks English and French (plus a little Spanish), and studied Office Management (Bilingual) at Yaba College of Technology. “I’m from a big family of nine. I was born in Lagos, had secondary school in Ibadan, and came back to Lagos for higher education,” he shared.
Passion for art, purpose in coaching
Jonnybee’s journey into pageantry started out of pure fascination. “I used to watch pageants and try to predict the winners based on beauty. But the deeper I went, the more I saw how much more there was to it.”
What set him apart was his decision to become a coach, not a contestant. “Everyone wants to model, but very few want to coach. I took up the responsibility to help shape models, not just pose them.”
His courage to start was inspired by two mentors, TCC and Smart Courage. He began calling himself an international coach before he even had a passport, trusting that his mission would eventually go global.
International before the stamps
That dream came true when, three days after receiving his first passport, he was invited by Miss International Côte d’Ivoire 2023 to coach her and Miss World Côte d’Ivoire 2023.
From there, his journey spread quickly. He spent over a month in Côte d’Ivoire, then headed to Cape Verde, where he trained 25 contestants for Miss Cape Verde International. Two of those queens represented the country on global stages in 2024, including Miss Earth and Miss International.
Big results from humble beginnings
Since then, Coach Jonnybee has trained queens who went on to achieve the following: – Miss Universe Africa 2024, 1st runner-up (Nigeria) – Miss World Africa 2025, 1st runner-up (Ethiopia) – Miss Eco International 2025, Top 21 (Nigeria) – Miss Namibia 2025, 2nd runner-up – Miss Supranational 2024, Top 21 (Nigeria) – Miss Earth 2024, Top 8 (Cape Verde) – Miss International Africa 2024 (Cape Verde)
“I’ve lost count,” he said with a smile. “But I’m proud of each queen I’ve worked with.”
Confidence and culture at the core
His coaching is deeply rooted in confidence, clarity, and purpose. “I always ask my clients their *why*. Why do you want to be on that stage? Once I know that, I can build you from the inside out.”
His process involves flexible methods, targeted training, and deep cultural awareness. “When I coach someone from another country, I first learn about their culture. It helps me connect and teach better.”
Fighting stigma, embracing integrity
Coach Jonnybee is also vocal about the misconceptions around pageantry. “People say pageants are a scam or tied to prostitution. I’m here to prove otherwise. You can go far in this industry without getting dirty.”
That mindset has earned him both applause and resistance. “I’ve faced setbacks and controversies, but I just mind my business and keep pushing,” he said.
Ghana and beyond
Today, Jonnybee’s work is reaching across Africa, impacting contestants in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, and Togo. He’s currently training six contestants and will be in Accra on August 23rd for Miss Sapphire Ghana 2025.
His organization, Jonnybee Concept, is based in Lagos but open to training models globally. In the next few years, he envisions launching international training centres for queens and aspiring models.
More than pageants
Outside coaching, Jonnybee is a talented creative. He is a fashion designer, vocal coach, event planner, decorator, and cultural dancer. “Everything I do connects to beauty, culture, and self-expression,” he said.
His advice for the youth? “Keep pushing. People don’t believe in you until they see how hard you’ve worked.” And his core message remains clear:
“You can go far without getting dirty.”
