Miss Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, secured second place in the recently held Miss Universe competition, earning the title of Miss Africa and Oceania in the process. Adetshina had originally competed in the Miss South Africa contest. However, she faced xenophobic backlash due to her Nigerian heritage and controversies over her mother’s alleged identity fraud, prompting her to withdraw her candidacy and leave the competition. Following South African threats to revoke her identity papers, she pivoted to represent Nigeria, ultimately qualifying for Miss Universe in Mexico City. Amid the controversy, Adetshina, a law student, expressed her dual pride in both South African and Nigerian identities, stating that she considers herself a member of both communities. Nevertheless, she plans to seek therapy to cope with the intense public scrutiny. Adetshina’s achievement marks the highest placement for a Black African woman in Miss Universe since South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi’s 2019 victory.
SOURCE: BBC
