Chidimma Adetshina, who withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant due to nationality disputes, has been named Miss Universe Nigeria.
The 23-year-old law student celebrated her new title on Saturday, describing it as a call for unity.
Adetshina, whose father is Nigerian and mother is Mozambican, faced scrutiny regarding her eligibility for the Miss South Africa contest. Although a South African citizen, her mixed heritage led to questions about her participation.
An investigation by South Africa’s Home Affairs Department raised potential identity concerns related to her mother but ultimately cleared Adetshina of any wrongdoing.
Following her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant for personal safety reasons, Adetshina was invited to compete for Miss Universe Nigeria. She will now represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition in November.
Her victory has sparked both support and criticism. While many on social media hailed her as an inspiring figure, others have alleged that the competition was biased in her favor.
The Miss Universe Nigeria organizers have not yet addressed these allegations. Adetshina’s main competitor at Miss Universe will be Mia le Roux, this year’s Miss South Africa, who made history as the first deaf winner.
