Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, was the first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant held in Mexico City on Saturday night, but the crown was won by Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig.
During the event, Chidimma was also named Miss Universe Africa and Miss Oceania.
The 23-year-old’s journey to the Miss Universe contest was a turbulent and painful one.
Adetshina initially competed in this year’s Miss South Africa but withdrew after facing a xenophobic backlash.
Despite being a South African citizen, her eligibility was questioned because her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots. The Home Affairs Department investigated her at the request of the Miss South Africa organisers and suggested that Ms. Adetshina’s mother may have committed “identity fraud” to obtain South African nationality.
Following this, Adetshina made what she described as a “difficult decision” – she left the competition for her family’s safety and well-being. Afterwards, Miss Universe Nigeria extended an invitation to Adetshina, asking her to compete.
Although she came second in the recent competition, Chidimma received a “royal” reception in Nigeria, with widespread praise for her participation in the beauty pageant, both on social media and in the country’s mainstream media.
Credit: BBC Focus Africa