Chidimma Adetshina, who withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant amid controversy over her nationality, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria. The 23-year-old law student, with a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, was born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, but faced backlash in South Africa questioning her eligibility due to her heritage.
Following an investigation by South Africa’s Home Affairs department, which implicated her mother in potential identity theft, Adetshina stepped down from the Miss South Africa contest for her family’s safety.
Invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, Adetshina won the title on Saturday and will now represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition in November. Her win has drawn mixed reactions, with supporters celebrating her resilience, while critics accuse the contest of bias. Among her competitors at Miss Universe will be Mia le Roux, the first deaf woman to win Miss South Africa, who took the crown after Adetshina’s exit.
