Chidinma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student who previously faced xenophobic backlash in South Africa, has emerged victorious as Miss Universe Nigeria 2024.
The grand finale took place on Saturday, August 31st night at the prestigious Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria.
Adetshina, who represented Taraba State, beat 24 other contestants to claim the crown, positioning her as Nigeria’s representative at the Miss Universe 2024 competition scheduled for November in Mexico.
This victory comes after great ordeal for Adetshina, whose participation in Miss SA 2024 took a sharp turn when she was forced to withdraw from the Miss Universe South Africa competition earlier this year.
Born to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina qualified to represent South Africa due to her citizenship by birth.
However, her participation was met with fierce criticism from South Africans who questioned her nationality and accused her of using a “stolen identity.”
The South African Home Office later supported the backlash, claiming her citizenship was invalid.
After stepping down from the South African pageant, Adetshina was invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, an opportunity she described as a “second chance” to achieve her lifelong dream.
Speaking to ARISE NEWS, she said, “I’ve always wanted to be a model, and when I first understood what pageantry was in 2017, I knew I wanted to be the next Miss Universe. This feels like a second chance at achieving that goal.”
Adetshina’s participation in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant also sparked excitement and controversy. Miss Kwara, Ufa Dania, became a fan favorite thanks to her groundbreaking presence as the first full-figured contestant in the history of the competition.
Dania received overwhelming support, particularly from South African social media users, who encouraged votes against Adetshina.
With fan voting playing a major role in determining the top 10 contestants, the competition drew global attention.
Guy Murray-Bruce, President of the Silverbird Group, which organized the event, crowned Adetshina as the winner, while Nigeria’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Hannatu Musawa, presented her with a bouquet and expressed the government’s support for her future endeavors.
“We are proud to have Chidinma represent Nigeria, and we will ensure she has all the support she needs to make Nigeria proud on the global stage,” Musawa said.
After being crowned, an elated Adetshina told the audience, “I feel amazing. This crown is not just about beauty, but a call for action, and that action is unity.”
As Adetshina prepares for the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico, she is already seen as a symbol of grace, perseverance, and hope.
