Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria after facing intense criticism and withdrawing from the Miss South Africa competition due to a controversy over her nationality.
Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina was initially a finalist in Miss South Africa, but her participation sparked a backlash, with critics questioning her eligibility due to her mixed heritage.
The controversy led to an investigation by South Africa’s home affairs department, which found no wrongdoing on Adetshina’s part but suggested that her mother might have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African citizenship.
For the safety and well-being of her family, Adetshina decided to drop out of the Miss South Africa contest.
Her story gained international attention, and the organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to participate in their competition, offering her the opportunity to represent her father’s homeland on the global stage.
On Saturday, Adetshina was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria in Lagos and will now represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition in November.
Adetshina expressed her joy and gratitude, stating, “This crown is not just for beauty; it’s a call for unity.” Her victory has been widely celebrated on social media, with supporters praising her resilience and strength.
However, some critics have accused the contest of being rigged in her favor due to the controversy surrounding her nationality.
Despite the challenges, Adetshina remains proud of her South African roots and looks forward to competing in the international Miss Universe pageant.
(With inputs from Agence France-Presse and BBC)
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