After a bout of xenophobic backlash and rejection compelled her to withdraw from a South African pageant, pretty Chidimma Adetshina, has been crowned as Nigeria’s Miss Universe 2024.
Chidimma Adetshina, who represented Taraba State, emerged winner of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant.
The Daily Crucible reports that Adetshina was forced to quit her participation in the South African beauty pageant following xenophobic backlash and rejection for not being a national of South Africa.
She returned to Nigeria afterwards and joined the race for Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant competition.
The President of Silverbird Group, Guy Murray – Bruce, organisers of the competition, declared the 23-year-old law student – Adetshina, Winner at the colourful grand finale at Eko Hotels & Suites, Lagos, on Saturday night.
No fewer than 25 damsels contested for the highly coveted Crown/title of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant.
Earlier in an interview with the Arise News, regarding the competition, elated Adetshina said, “I am so excited, I just feel like this is a second chance in achieving one of my biggest dreams and my biggest goals, and I’m really excited. I’ve always wanted to be a model, I wasn’t really educated on pageantry and all of that.
“When I first knew what pageantry was, it was in 2017, and that’s when I told myself I want to be the next Miss Universe. So, for me, it’s just a thing of I had goals and I set them for myself, and I’m here to achieve them. So, I think I’m just aligning with what I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m really grateful for that.
And asked if she would have participated in the pageant if she was not invited, Adetshina said, “No, I wouldn’t, because I wouldn’t have known if I was able to. And also, it has been long since I’ve been here (Nigeria). But I also saw the comments and I was like, maybe this is something I should try out, but then, obviously, the invitation came out and I was really excited that I was given that opportunity, so that’s why I took it as quick as possible.
“Ever since I’ve gotten here, I’ve only received so much love and encouragement from all of the girls. So, I came in here thinking that a lot of them will feel some type of way about the invitation and about me actually coming, but I can guarantee the words of encouragement, the support I’ve been given by these amazing women has been there, and I’m just really happy that they accept me, and that they are not feeling some type of way after receiving all the critiques and the comments about this advantage that people might feel that I might have had.”
