In 1991, Oshinowo, then representing Nigeria at Miss World, criticised her South African counterpart, Diana Tilden-Davis, after the latter reportedly made derogatory remarks regarding black women.

According to The Sowetan, Oshinowo had heard Tilden-Davis state that native South Africans were absent from her country's national pageant due to their high teen pregnancy rate.

Miss World officials banned Tilden-Davis, who subsequently placed third in the contest that year, from arguing against the accusation, dismissing the report as a rumour.

[9][10] In 2010, after a six-year attempt, Oshinowo finally bought the Miss Nigeria franchise from former organisers Daily Times, and became chief executive and creative director of the pageant from 2010 to 2012.

[16] Oshinowo, who speaks five languages (English, French, Japanese, Spanish, and her native Yoruba), married medical doctor Tunde Soleye in 2006,[17][18] but is now divorced.