Chidimma Adetshina joins Miss Universe Nigeria after Miss SA controversy

Chidimma Adetshina joins Miss Universe Nigeria after Miss SA controversy

Chidimma Adetshina has joined Miss Universe Nigeria as its 25th contestant after withdrawing from Miss South Africa due to backlash about her eligibility to contest in the country.

Miss Universe Nigeria organiser Guy Murray-Bruce confirmed her participation, emphasising her eligibility due to her father’s Nigerian heritage.

“I just want to say thank you so much for this opportunity, and I am looking forward to participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant,” said Adetshina in a video on Instagram.
Less than a week after her hopes of becoming the next Miss South were dashed when she withdrew from the pageant due to backlash about her nationality, Chidimma Adetshina accepted an invitation by Miss Universe Nigeria to participate in its upcoming pageant.

Guy Murray-Bruce, president of the Silverbird Group and organiser of the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, made the announcement on Wednesday. As the 25th contestant, Adetshina will represent Taraba State in north-eastern Nigeria.

According to Murray-Bruce, the 23-year-old reached out to him and initially expressed hesitation toward participating in the country’s upcoming pageant as its top 24 contestants had already been chosen. However, Murray-Bruce said he assured her she would be eligible to participate in the competition, regardless of possible uproar, because she was half-Nigerian.

Adetshina faced backlash for participating in Miss South Africa due to her Nigerian paternity. Additionally, questions were raised about her mother’s nationality, who was initially reported to be South African of Mozambican descent.

However, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs said it found evidence suggesting that the person it had on record as Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.

Accepting the invitation to join this year’s pageant, Adetshina said: “I have decided to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 beauty pageant”.

“I understand the expectations and responsibilities that come with this title, and I am so excited to embark on this journey and I just want to say thank you so much for this opportunity, and I am looking forward to participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant, Miss Universe Nigeria.”

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Though the date of the pageant finale is yet to be announced, the winner will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe Pageant taking place in Mexico in November.

In an interview with SA’s Newzroom Afrika TV, newly crowned Miss South Africa Mia le Roux said it was “extremely hard” for all the top finalists to see what Adetshina went through in the lead-up to the pageant.

“She’s our little Chi Chi, and we’ve grown to know her and love her, and we truly do not believe that she deserved it as we know her,” she said.

“She’s a phenomenal, powerful, beautiful woman in her own right, and she deserved her spot in Miss South Africa. I stand for unity. I do not stand for people being divided, so I think we can do better in that aspect. We need to support and include one another because she was excluded, and that’s not okay,”(www.amatropics.com)