Weeks after being forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant, Ms. Chidinma Onwe Adetshina has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024.
The 23-year-old won the title by outshining 24 other contestants at the pageant held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos State, on August 31, 2024.
Chidinma’s withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant was a result of significant backlash related to questions about her nationality. Born to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, and raised in Soweto, Chidinma faced intense scrutiny and abuse from some South Africans. They questioned her eligibility, arguing that her Nigerian heritage disqualified her from participating.
South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister, Leon Schreiber, initiated an investigation into Chidinma’s citizenship after the Miss South Africa organizers and the public raised concerns. The investigation revealed that an “innocent” South African mother’s identity might have been compromised by Chidinma’s mother, which led to her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa competition.
Despite this, Chidinma’s talent and resilience have now earned her the prestigious Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 title.
Watch a video of the moment she was crowned below:
