Chidimma Adetshina, winner of Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant, said being invited to take part in the competition was a second chance to achieve one of her biggest dreams.
Adetshina, the 23-year-old law student defeated 24 other contestants. After the contestants showcased their elegance in evening gowns, the top five finalists were announced.
They included Miss Taraba Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Anambra Paula Ezendu, Miss Edo Edeifo Brittany, Miss Ondo Ayegbidun Peace Olamide, and Miss Rivers Nyekachi Douglas.
The top three winners were announced with Miss Ondo named Miss Lush, Miss Anambra as the first runner-up and Miss Supranational, and Chidimma Adetshina as the overall winner.
She came to Nigeria after accepting to participate in the competition following her controversial withdrawal from Miss South Africa 2024 due to xenophobic backlash over her nationality.
Born to a Nigerian father, and a Mozambique mother, she was raised in Soweto. She represented Taraba State in the keenly contested competition, which had a total of 25 participants.
Citing the incessant attacks against her person and threats to her family after her withdrawal, the National Director of Miss Universe Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce, invited her to compete in the just concluded MUN 2024.
Adetshina will receive N10 million in cash along with other prizes as well as representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this November.
Adetshina, who spoke to Arise Television before she emerged victorious as Miss Universe Nigeria, said: “I am so excited. I just feel like this is a second chance in achieving one of my biggest dreams and my biggest goals, and I’m really excited. I’ve always wanted to be a model. I wasn’t really educated on pageantry and all of that.
“When I first knew what pageantry was, it was in 2017, and that’s when I told myself I want to be the next Miss Universe. So, for me, it’s just a thing of I had goals and I set them for myself, and I’m here to achieve them. So, I think I’m just aligning with what I’ve always wanted to do, and I’m really grateful for that.”
However, when asked if she would have participated in the pageant if she was not invited, she said: “No, I wouldn’t, because I wouldn’t have known if I was able to. And also, it has been long since I’ve been here (Nigeria). But I also saw the comments and I was like, maybe this is something I should try out. But then, obviously, the invitation came out and I was really excited that I was given that opportunity. So, that’s why I took it as quick as possible.
“Ever since I’ve gotten here, I’ve only received so much love and encouragement from all of the girls. So, I came in here thinking that a lot of them will feel some type of way about the invitation and about me actually coming. But I can guarantee the words of encouragement, the support I’ve been given by these amazing women has been there, and I’m just really happy that they accept me, and that they are not feeling some type of way after receiving all the critiques and the comments about this advantage that people might feel that I might have had.
“I’m grateful for all the love and the support, I don’t think anybody deserves to be treated differently or feel unaccepted or unloved or whatever. So, I’m really grateful because I’ve seen the support, I’ve seen the love. I thought, you know, most of it was all hate, but I’ve seen the love and I’m so grateful, because that is actually what fuels me, that is what gives me joy, that is what makes me motivated to actually continue thriving in my everyday life and my dreams as well. So, I’m really grateful for them.”
