In brief
Miss Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, proudly reflects on her journey to becoming the second runner-up in the Miss Universe contest despite facing xenophobic backlash in South Africa.
Chidimma Adetshina, who represented Nigeria in the recent Miss Universe competition, has emerged as a symbol of resilience after facing significant challenges during her pageant journey. Coming in second place, she also earned the titles of Miss Africa and Miss Oceania, making her the highest placed Black African woman in the contest since Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa won in 2019. Following her impressive achievement, Adetshina expressed immense pride in her accomplishments, stating, “I’m so proud of myself and I just made history.”Her journey, however, was marred by controversy. Initially a contestant in Miss South Africa, Adetshina faced trolling and xenophobic abuse connected to her Nigerian heritage. There were also allegations involving her mother's identity status, which led to scrutiny by South African authorities. Despite these obstacles, she earned her title as Miss Nigeria, paving her way to the Miss Universe contest in Mexico City.Adetshina's participation garnered mixed reactions, especially after the official Miss Universe South Africa account congratulated her with both Nigerian and South African flags. The tweet incited divisive opinions among South Africans questioning her representation, highlighting the ongoing debates about national identity in the beauty pageant realm.In light of the psychological toll from online bullying, Adetshina revealed plans to seek therapy to address the trauma she has experienced. However, she remains firm in her identity, describing herself as "proudly South African" and "proudly Nigerian." Her journey exemplifies not only her personal triumph but also broader conversations about acceptance, identity, and representation in the global beauty scene.
