Cape Town – Chidimma Adetshina, representing Nigeria, was crowned Miss Universe runner-up at the pageant in Mexico City on Sunday, with Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig winning the title and Mexico’s María Fernanda Beltrán Figueroa placing third.
Chidimma , who was born and raised in South Africa, faced controversy earlier this year when South African authorities accused her parents of identity fraud to secure her citizenship.
She withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant in August and fled to Nigeria, where she gained citizenship and won Miss Universe Nigeria.
Despite efforts by South African groups to exclude her from Miss Universe, Chidimma praised Nigeria for offering her support during the challenging period, sharing an emotional message on Instagram about her journey.
“To my dearest Nigerians, with open arms, you carried me on wheels made of the purest love and intentions. I still cannot fully comprehend the reasons, but what matters most is that you’ve given me a second chance at life. For a moment, my life flashed before my eyes, but in the next breath, Nigeria refuelled my purpose and my reason to live,” She wrote on her Instagram page.
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She added: “As I step onto the Miss Universe stage tonight, I carry with me over 2 million beads of love, strength, and an unstoppable spirit. In this very moment, history is being made through my story. I call upon all my ancestors to guide my path with ease and grace. I promise to give my very best while you continue to pray for me.”
Meanwhile, Miss South Africa 2024, Mia Le Roux, withdrew from the competition due to health issues, focusing on recovery.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
