Maryam Elisha, born Maryam Rikoto Elisha, is a leading Nigerian model, former beauty queen, and fashion entrepreneur best known as the creative director and CEO of the luxury brand Rikaoto By ME. Over almost two decades, she has transitioned from pageantry to become one of Nigeria’s top couturiers, dressing Beauty queens, celebrities and high-profile dignitaries, while also gaining recognition as a philanthropist and, most recently, as a traditional ruler in her home community.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Maryam Rikoto Elisha |
| Date of Birth | N/A |
| Place of Birth | Kano State, Nigeria |
| Nationality | Nigerian |
| State of Origin | Kebbi State, Nigeria |
| Partner | N/A |
| Children | Yes |
| Occupations | Fashion Designer, Entrepreneur, Former Model, Beauty Queen, Philanthropist, Traditional Ruler |
| Net Worth | Estimated $1–3 million (₦1.5–4.5 billion) |
Early Life and Education
Maryam hails from Kebbi State in northwestern Nigeria but was born in Kano State. She’s the youngest of seven children, raised by a retired police officer father and a businesswoman mother.
She completed her primary and secondary schooling in Kano before moving to Lagos for university, graduating from the University of Lagos with a degree in English Language. To sharpen her craft, she later traveled to the United States for an intensive eight-month fashion design program at the New Jersey Fashion School.
In 2023, she was honored with an honorary doctorate in Business Administration from Prowess University, Delaware, USA, awarded during a ceremony at UNILAG.
Career
Maryam was scouted in secondary school and modeled for nearly eight years, fronting campaigns for Faruz drink, MTN Nigeria, Sterling Bank, Diamond Bank, Lucozade Boost, and Delta Soap.
She won the Miss Valentine Beauty Pageant in 2007, then used her platform to advocate for better healthcare and fight HIV/AIDS stigma, earning the Miss Environment title from Lagos State and recognition from then-Governor Babatunde Fashola. She competed in Miss Nigeria in 2010 and 2013 but did not win.
In 2009, she launched Rikaoto By ME, a couture brand specializing in red-carpet gowns and evening wear. Her breakthrough came when Anna Ebiere Banner (MBGN 2013) wore her designs, leading to her appointment as fashion consultant for MBGN 2014.
She’s since styled top beauty queens, including Miss Nigeria 2023, Chidinma Adetshina, and was among the designers commissioned for former President Goodluck Jonathan. Today, she’s a go-to couturier for pageant queens and celebrities and often serves as a pageant judge.
Philanthropy and Traditional Title
Maryam founded the Save Tomorrow Today charity foundation, focusing on humanitarian projects in her community and beyond.
In December 2024, she made history when she was crowned Sarauniyar Matan Rafin Zuru (Queen of the Women of Rafin Zuru) in Kebbi State, the first female traditional queen in her community. The turbaning was held at the palace of His Royal Highness Alhaji Hamza Muhammad, Sarkin Rafin Zuru.
Personal Life
Maryam keeps her private life largely out of the public eye. She’s a mother, but details about her partner or children aren’t widely publicized. In 2017, she had a widely reported brush with death, though she’s kept the specifics private.
Net Worth
Industry estimates place Maryam Elisha’s net worth between $1 million and $3 million (roughly ₦1.5 billion to ₦4.5 billion), driven by her fashion brand, pageant consulting, endorsements, and investments.
Awards and Recognition
- Miss Valentine Beauty Pageant Winner (2007)
- Miss Environment Title, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (2008)
- One of the 20 Most Influential Pageant Personalities in Nigeria
- Pageant Couturier of the Year, Xperience Womanity Awards, Enugu (2016)
- Pageant Designer of the Year, Xperience Womanity Awards (2017)
- Pageant Couturier of the Year, Xperience Womanity Awards (2017, second win)
- Honorary Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Business Administration, Prowess University, Delaware, USA (2023)
- Honoree, The Achievers Awards International (TAAI), Lagos (2024)
- Sarauniyar Matan Rafin Zuru – Traditional Royal Title, Kebbi State (2024)
