Former Miss Nigeria 1986, Rita Anuku is dead.

A statement released by the family said the late beauty queen passed away on Thursday at an undisclosed Abuja hospital. She was aged 47.

It said Anuku, who became a beauty queen at age 18, as a secondary school leaver, had been battling with cancer for two years.

Rita was the younger sister of Nollywood actor, Hanks Anuku and also the first cousin of Hon. David Anuku, former Commissioner for Special Duties in Delta State.

She is survived by four children – three girls and a boy.