Akalites in shock as Grace Nwanyanwu dies in Dubai. Already buried.

High profile Akalite and perhaps, the most beautiful woman to have been born in Umuaka in the last few decades, Grace Nwanyanwu has died. According to Umuaka Times correspondents in UAE, the former Miss Grace Chizobam Nwanyanwu died on Saturday 29, March 2025 in Dubai after a brief illness.

Special correspondents of Umuaka Times in the United Arab Emirates confirmed that the burial of the late beauty queen has already been held on April 12, 2025 by 4pm at St Mary’s Catholic Church Dubai and eventually buried at Jabel Ali Christian Cemetery Dubai. During her burial ceremonies, family, friends and well-wishers who could not make it to Dubai, joined the funeral program via zoom as they paid their last respect.

For those unfamiliar with Grace’s story, she was a prominent socialite known for her stunning beauty and captivating personality that was impossible to ignore. Her charm was undeniable, and she left a lasting impression on everyone she met. In fact Quality Magazine some years ago compared two beauty queens, Bianca Onoh and Binta Sukai in terms of beauty and asked Nigerians to indicate who was finer. Grace, during her youthful years was finer than both Bianca and Binta two former most beautiful girls in Nigeria beauty pageant winners respectively! There is no way to adequately capture the beauty of Grace Anyanwu in her prime days but Umuaka Times reporters tried to poetically describe her as a woman with an inestimable vision of loveliness that embodies spotless beauty with her eyes sparkling like starlight on a moonless night! With a symphony of movement that mesmerizes and captivates, Grace was indeed a masterpiece of nature molded by God himself in the 60s.

Interestingly, Umuaka Times had attempted to interview Grace about three years ago, but she requested that the newspaper reveal the name of the intermediary who brokered the interview. When the newspaper declined to disclose the source, the interview didn’t happen. In subsequent conversations, Grace revealed that she had changed her name to Olive and had dedicated her life to her faith, finding a new relationship with Jesus.

The death of former Miss Grace (Olive) Chizobam Nwanyanwu was a big shock to Umuaka Times reporters who had communications with her in the past.

Grace or Olive whose death has sent shockwaves across Nigeria and beyond was married to the Okoroji family probably in Abia State. She has a son known as Clinton Okoroji. The age of the young Clinton Okoroji could not be determined before press time last week. Umuaka Times made frantic efforts to reach out to her family members without success.

Our sympathy goes to both the Nwanyanwu and Okoroji families over the great loss the family has suffered.