After facing intense scrutiny over her nationality and withdrawing from the Miss South Africa competition, Chidimma Adetshina has now been crowned as Miss Universe Nigeria, marking a significant turn in her journey.
Ms. Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, was overwhelmed with emotion as she received the title on Saturday, declaring, “This crown is not just for beauty; it’s a call for unity,” after enduring weeks of a heated media controversy.
Her entry into the Miss Universe Nigeria contest came after her status as a finalist in Miss South Africa sparked widespread criticism.
Although she is a South African citizen, some questioned her eligibility due to her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother.
In interviews, Adetshina clarified that she was born in Soweto, near Johannesburg, and raised in Cape Town.
The controversy surrounding her nationality prompted the Miss South Africa organizers to request an investigation by the country’s home affairs department.
The department’s preliminary findings suggested that Adetshina’s mother might have committed “identity theft” to acquire South African citizenship.
However, they noted that Ms. Adetshina, an infant at the time, could not have been involved in any illegal actions.
Following this announcement, Ms. Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest, citing concerns for her and her family’s safety and well-being. Her story quickly garnered international attention.
Moved by her experience, the Miss Universe Nigeria organizers invited her to compete, offering her the chance to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage.”
After winning the title, she is now set to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition in November.
Her victory has been widely celebrated on social media. One South African supporter wrote on Instagram, “Your story is inspirational – you are stronger than you think and we love you our African sister.”
A Nigerian supporter echoed this sentiment, stating, “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.”
However, not all reactions were positive. Some accused the competition of being “rigged” in her favor, with one critic stating, “She’s undeserving… She has never lived in Nigeria and was merely invited to compete after the final delegates had been chosen… she arrived in Nigeria for the first time after 20 years last week, only to be given our crown.
This organisation reeks of sheer bias.” Another detractor wrote, “In all honesty you won out of pity… feeling very sorry for the other contestants who were there long before you came.”
Ms. Adetshina’s rivals at the upcoming Miss Universe contest in November will include Mia le Roux, who became the first deaf woman to win the Miss South Africa title after Adetshina’s withdrawal.
Source-BBC
