Chidimma Adetshina, who had to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest due to scrutiny over her nationality, has now been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria. She expressed her joy and relief with tears as she was awarded the title on Saturday.
“This crown is not just for beauty; it’s a call for unity,” the 23-year-old law student stated after weeks at the center of an intense media storm.
Following criticism of her eligibility in the Miss South Africa contest, Adetshina was invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria, according to the BBC. The controversy arose due to her mixed heritage, as her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots, despite her being a South African citizen.
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Adetshina was born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, the South African township near Johannesburg. The confusion over her nationality during the Miss South Africa contest prompted organizers to request an investigation by the Home Affairs Department into the saga, which revealed potential “identity theft” by her mother to obtain South African citizenship.
However, the statement added that Adetshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time”.
Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest a day after an announcement regarding her mother’s alleged identity theft, citing concerns for her family’s safety and wellbeing.
Following the global attention to her story, organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to compete in their contest. They said she would be able to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage”.
Adetshina, now crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, will represent the country at the Miss Universe competition in November. Her victory has been widely celebrated on social media.
“Your story is inspirational – you are stronger than you think and we love you our African sister,” one South African woman wrote on Instagram.
Another supporter said: “Trust me guys we Nigerians are proud of her… she’s our very own sister, a very smart, intelligent girl, our Nigerian blood runs through her veins.”
Some critics also alleged the contest was “rigged” in her favor. However, organizers have yet to respond to these accusations.
“She’s undeserving,” one Instagram user said.
“She has never lived in Nigeria and was merely invited to compete after the final delegates had been chosen… she arrived in Nigeria for the first time after 20 years last week, only to be given our crown. This organization reeks of sheer bias.”
Another wrote: “In all honesty you won out of pity… feeling very sorry for the other contestants who were there long before you came.”
At the upcoming Miss Universe contest in November, Adetshina will compete against Mia le Roux, who won Miss South Africa after Adetshina’s withdrawal.
Le Roux made history as the first deaf woman to win the Miss South Africa title.
