Veso Golden Oke

Veso Golden Oke is a Nigerian [Legal status of Legal status of transgender people|transgender people|transgender] model, make-up artist and hairstylist. In 2019, she became the first openly transgender woman to compete in a beauty pageant in Africa. Then, she was crowned Miss Start International on October 15, 2023, in Santana Susanna, Barcelona, Spain.

Early life

Oke was born to a Nigerian father and a Ghanaian mother. She was raised Anglican.
As a child, Oke was feminine and felt that she was a woman; she never identified as a gay man. She has recalled that at age 8, she used to pray she would wake up in a girl's body. At age 14, she learned online about transgender identity and came to terms with her own identity. Although initially when she came out her family thought "the devil had taken over her," her parents soon became supportive.

Career

In 2014, Oke left Nigeria and moved to Ghana. There, she began working as a model and mentor to models in Accra.
In August 2019, Oke competed in Miss Europe Continental, a beauty pageant being held in Ghana.

Personal life

By 2018 Oke was on HRT.
Oke admitted to dating girls in her early years because she thought being in a romantic relationship might change her attractions. She has not shared anything about her current relationship status and left Nigeria for Ghana following the 2024 anti-LGBT+ law.
She hopes that one day, Nigeria will recognize trans people for who they are, and that they will gain more visibility and acceptance.