MISS Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has expressed her pride after securing second place in the Miss Universe competition, where she was also crowned Miss Africa and Oceania.
‘I’m so proud of myself, and I just made history,’ said Adetshina following the event in Mexico City, where she narrowly lost to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig. Her achievement marks a milestone as the highest-placed Black African woman in Miss Universe since South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi won the title in 2019.
From Miss South Africa to Miss Nigeria
Adetshina’s journey to the global stage has been marked by triumphs and challenges. Born and raised in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican-rooted mother, she originally competed in the Miss South Africa contest. However, her participation sparked a wave of xenophobic abuse online, with critics questioning her South African identity.
The controversy deepened last month when South African authorities announced plans to revoke her identity papers. Allegations surfaced that her mother had fraudulently obtained South African nationality. While authorities acknowledged Adetshina had no involvement, as she was an infant at the time, the scandal overshadowed her pageantry career in South Africa.
Amid the backlash, Adetshina turned to her paternal roots, competing in and winning the Miss Nigeria competition, which secured her place in Miss Universe.
Mixed reactions
Despite her success, reactions in South Africa remain divided. After Miss Universe South Africa congratulated her on social media using both South African and Nigerian flags, some South Africans questioned her representation of the country.
Adetshina addressed her dual identity in a BBC interview in September , declaring herself proudly South African’ and ‘proudly Nigerian’. She also revealed that she was seeking therapy to cope with the emotional toll of online abuse and public scrutiny.
A pageant full of twists
The Miss Universe competition also saw drama from South Africa’s end. Mia le Roux, the reigning Miss South Africa and the first deaf woman to hold the title, withdrew from the event last week due to an undisclosed medical condition.
Adetshina’s success at Miss Universe highlights her resilience, despite the personal and political challenges she has faced. As a law student with aspirations beyond the runway, her story underscores the complexities of identity and belonging in a globalised world.
Celebrating a historic achievement
With her second-place finish and recognition as Miss Africa and Oceania, Adetshina has cemented her place in the history of African representation at Miss Universe.
