Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old beauty pageant contestant, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria after overcoming a storm of controversy and hostility in South Africa.
Adetshina, who faced xenophobic attacks questioning her nationality, emerged victorious at the pageant held in Lagos on Saturday night. She is set to represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe competition in Mexico this November.
Adetshina’s journey to the crown was far from smooth. Just a month ago, she withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest after becoming the target of online xenophobia.
The backlash began when it was revealed that she was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother with Mozambican roots, raising questions about her eligibility to compete in South Africa.
In response, Miss Universe Nigeria organizers extended an invitation to Adetshina, framing it as an opportunity for her to represent her father’s homeland on the international stage. “Her journey in pageantry is far from over,” they emphasized.
After her victory, Adetshina took to Instagram, calling the win “a dream come true.” She described the crown as “not just a symbol of beauty” but “a call to action” for African unity. “As I accept this honor, I want to share a vision that burns deeply within me, a vision of African unity and peaceful coexistence!” she wrote.
She urged Africans to “break down the barriers that divide us” and work towards a continent where everyone can “move freely without prejudice, pursue their dreams, and contribute to the growth and prosperity of our great continent.”
Meanwhile, South African authorities are investigating Adetshina’s citizenship status after the Home Affairs department suggested that her mother might have committed identity fraud to obtain South African citizenship in 2001.
However, the department has cleared Adetshina of any wrongdoing, noting that she was just an infant at the time.
