Chidimma Adetshina, representing Nigeria at the 2024 Miss Universe competition, secured second place in a stunning performance that also earned her the title of Miss Africa and Oceania. This marks a significant achievement, making Adetshina the highest-placed Black African woman in the pageant since South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi claimed victory in 2019.
In a post-competition interview, Adetshina expressed immense pride in her journey, stating, “I’m so proud of myself and I just made history.” Despite coming second to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, Adetshina’s accomplishment stands as a testament to resilience and determination, particularly in light of the controversies surrounding her nationality.
Adetshina’s participation in Miss Universe follows a turbulent journey, with a history of xenophobic abuse after she initially entered the Miss South Africa competition. Born in South Africa to Nigerian parents, Adetshina faced backlash due to her Nigerian roots, leading to trolling and social media vitriol. Compounding the matter, allegations emerged last month that her mother, of Mozambican descent, had committed identity fraud to secure South African nationality for her daughter. Despite the allegations, South African authorities clarified that Adetshina could not have been involved as she was an infant at the time. Neither Adetshina nor her mother have publicly commented on these claims.
Amid the turmoil, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest, and, with the support of the Nigerian pageant, competed in the Miss Nigeria contest, where she emerged victorious. This win paved the way for her to represent Nigeria in Mexico City at the prestigious Miss Universe pageant.
Interestingly, the winner of Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux, had to pull out of Miss Universe due to an undisclosed medical condition. Le Roux, the first deaf woman to win the Miss South Africa title, was replaced by Adetshina in the competition.
Despite her success, the Miss Universe competition has not been without its challenges. Following her second-place finish, Miss Universe South Africa congratulated Adetshina, acknowledging both the South African and Nigerian flags in their message. This gesture, however, sparked a backlash among some South Africans, who felt Adetshina did not represent their country. In a BBC interview, Adetshina expressed that she still considered herself “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian,” but the abuse she faced has left lasting emotional scars. The model and law student revealed plans to seek therapy to cope with the trauma.
Adetshina’s journey to the Miss Universe stage is a powerful narrative of resilience in the face of adversity, making her a symbol of triumph for not only Nigeria but the entire African continent.
