Chidimma Adetshina initially participated as a contestant in the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant. Her inclusion in this competition became a subject of national debate in South Africa due to her mixed heritage. She was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother with Mozambican roots, a background that unfortunately made her the target of xenophobic attacks.
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Chidimma Adetshina was born in Soweto, South Africa. She is of Nigerian and Mozambican descent and her father is Nigerian and her mother is Mozambican.
In July 2024 Chidimma Adetshina was announced as a finalist in the Miss South Africa contest. This announcement turned controversial as some South Africans began to question her eligibility to compete.
Despite her South African citizenship some say that her Nigerian and Mozambican heritage made her less deserving of the title. The controversy escalated exposing deep-seated xenophobia and anti-foreigner sentiments within the country.
The situation worsened when the South African Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into Chidimma Adetshina’s background. The investigation was around allegations that her mother might have committed identity theft to obtain South African citizenship.
Although the department eventually cleared Adetshina of any wrongdoing and acknowledging that she could not have been involved in the alleged actions as she was an infant at the time.
Chidimma Adetshina made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest. In a statement released on Instagram, she cited concerns for her family’s safety and well-being as the primary reason for her withdrawal.
Just as Chidimma Adetshina’s dreams seemed shattered, a new opportunity emerged. The organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria aware of her ordeal in South Africa extended an invitation for her to compete in their contest.
They saw her as a fitting representative of Nigeria on the international stage, given her Nigerian heritage through her father.
Chidimma Adetshina accepted the invitation, seeing it as a second chance to achieve her dream of participating in the Miss Universe contest.
Despite having spent little time in Nigeria she visited the country for the first time in 20 years shortly before the competition.
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On a Saturday night in Lagos, Chidimma Adetshina was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria. Overwhelmed with emotion, she cried tears of joy as she accepted the crown.
In her victory speech, Chidimma Adetshina said that the crown was more than just a symbol of beauty; it was a call for unity. She expressed her desire to use her platform to promote African unity and peaceful coexistence.
Chidimma Adetshina’s win was celebrated on social media with many Nigerians expressing pride in her achievement. One Nigerian supporter commented, “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.”
Chidimma Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant started a wave of xenophobic online attacks. Many South Africans questioned her eligibility focusing on her Nigerian heritage despite her South African citizenship.
The controversy escalated when reports surfaced suggesting that her mother may have committed identity fraud to obtain South African citizenship in 2001.
Although the South African Home Affairs Department investigated these claims, they exonerated Adetshina sayingg that she was an infant at the time and not involved in any wrongdoing.
Chidimma Adetshina accepted the invitation and went on to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant, held at the Eko Hotel Convention Centre in Lagos on August 31, 2024.
Her participation was met with both excitement and anticipation, given the circumstances surrounding her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa contest.
On the night of the competition, Chidimma Adetshina emerged as the winner securing the title of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024.
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