In 1958, Julie Coker’s life changed in an instant. One day, she was a young teacher shaping young minds; the next, she was crowned Miss Western Nigeria, stepping into a spotlight that would never fade. The title opened doors she had never imagined, setting her on a path to becoming one of Nigeria’s most recognisable faces.

With her poise and eloquence, television soon came calling. She became one of the country’s first female broadcasters, a fixture on Western Nigeria Television (WNTV), where she hosted beloved programmes like The Bar Beach Show and Julie’s World.

But Julie Coker was never one to be confined to a single stage. She turned to music, releasing three albums that blended Lagos disco with the rhythms of her Itsekiri heritage. Whether in a television studio or a recording booth, the microphone was simply another way for her to tell stories, to connect, and to captivate.