Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student who was recently at the center of a media storm in South Africa, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria.
This victory comes after Adetshina was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest due to a heated debate over her nationality.
Adetshina, who was born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, found herself in the spotlight when her position as a finalist in the Miss South Africa competition was challenged.
Despite being a South African citizen, her eligibility was questioned because her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots. The controversy prompted the Miss South Africa organizers to request an investigation by the nation’s home affairs department.
The investigation concluded that while there were allegations of “identity theft” involving Adetshina’s mother to secure South African nationality, Adetshina herself was not implicated as she was an infant at the time.
However, the intense scrutiny and backlash led Adetshina to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest, citing concerns for her and her family’s safety.
Following the international attention her story received, the organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria extended an invitation for Adetshina to compete in their pageant. They emphasized that she could “represent her father’s native land on the international stage,” a move that led to her emotional victory on Saturday.
“This crown is not just for beauty; it’s a call for unity,” Adetshina declared after her win, highlighting the significance of her journey.
Her triumph means she will now represent Nigeria at the upcoming Miss Universe competition in November, where she will compete against beauty queens from around the world, including Mia le Roux, the newly crowned Miss South Africa and the first deaf woman to win the title.
Adetshina’s journey from being hounded in South Africa to becoming a national icon in Nigeria has resonated with many, underscoring issues of identity and belonging in the modern world.
