From helping young models find their voice to training queens who now walk global stages, Coach Jonnybee is becoming a name that echoes far beyond Nigeria. But what makes his journey truly inspiring is how he built it all on passion, faith, and a fearless belief in his vision, even before he had a passport.
Born Bamilosin John Opeyemi, but known widely as Coach Jonnybee, the 27-year-old international pageant coach is based in Lagos, Nigeria, and originally hails from Ekiti State. He speaks English, French, and a bit of Spanish—and when he’s not coaching, he enjoys cooking, music, and travel.
“I come from a big family—three brothers, three sisters. I was born in Lagos, went to secondary school in Ibadan, then back to Lagos to study Office Management (Bilingual) at Yaba College of Technology,” he shares.
From fashion lover to coach of queens
Jonnybee’s love for pageantry began with curiosity. “At first, I just loved fashion and art. I used to think pageantry was only about beauty. I’d watch shows and try to predict the winners based on looks,” he laughs. “But the more I learned, the more I realized there’s so much more to it.”
He noticed that while everyone wanted to be a model, very few wanted to become coaches. That’s when he decided to step in—not just to train, but to help shape and guide young talents. “It became a responsibility for me,” he says. “I wanted to help models become more than just beautiful faces.”
His early inspirations were mentors TCC and Smart Courage, who gave him the boldness to start even when he had little. And start he did—he began calling himself an international pageant coach before ever owning a passport.
The call that changed everything
Just three days after finally getting his passport, Coach Jonnybee received a call that would kickstart his global chapter. “It was Miss International Côte d’Ivoire 2023. She wanted me to train her and Miss World Côte d’Ivoire 2023. That was the beginning.”
Since then, he’s spent months in countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Cape Verde, training national queens and preparing them for international stages. “In Cape Verde, I trained 25 amazing women. Two of them ended up representing the country at Miss International and Miss Earth 2024.”
Big wins, bigger impact
It’s hard to keep track of all his clients’ wins, but here are just a few highlights:
- 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 honestly lost count,” he admits with a smile.
His coaching style? Purpose over polish
What sets Jonnybee apart is his authenticity. “I focus on originality and patience. I want to know your WHY—why you want to be on that stage.”
His training style is flexible but strategic. “Once I understand the pageant you’re going for, I sharpen you for it. I don’t just prepare queens for the stage—I prepare them for the pressure, the audience, the spotlight.”
He’s also vocal about changing the negative perception surrounding pageantry. “People say pageants are a scam or that contestants sell themselves. I’m here to change that. You can go far without getting dirty—I said what I said.”
Still pushing, still dreaming bigger
Despite setbacks and criticism, Coach Jonnybee keeps showing up. “I’ve had my fair share of controversy, but I mind my business and keep moving. I still have a long way to go.”
So far, his coaching has influenced queens from Ghana, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, and Nigeria—and he’s just getting started. “Right now, I’m training six ladies for different pageants. I’ll also be in Ghana on August 23rd for Miss Sapphire Ghana 2025.”
Although his organization, Jonnybee Concept, is based in Lagos, he’s ready to travel anywhere. “In three years, I hope to have training centers across the world. That’s the vision.”
More than a coach
Outside the pageant world, Jonnybee wears many hats: fashion designer, music coach, event planner, decorator, and cultural dancer. “I love the arts, and everything I do connects back to expression and purpose.”
His advice for anyone dreaming big? “Keep pushing. People don’t believe you’re good until they see how hard you’ve worked.”
And if you remember only one thing about him, let it be this:
“You can go far without getting dirty.”
