From xenophobic attacks to Miss Universe: Chidimma Adetsina finds glory
Chidimma Adetsina’s journey to the Miss Universe centre stage seemed promising at first, until questions about her South African allegiance and identity quickly turned it into a path marked by xenophobic attacks.
Yet she transformed her challenges into a triumphant second-place finish at the just-ended Miss Universe pageant.
Adetsina initially emerged as one of the top 16 contestants in the Miss South Africa competition, but her journey was derailed by controversy over her South African citizenship.
Allegations surrounding her mother’s purported identity fraud led to brutal xenophobic attacks, forcing her to withdraw from the pageant. Subsequently, the South African Home Affairs Department launched an investigation, claiming to have uncovered irregularities in how her mother obtained South African citizenship.
Later in October, South African organisations like Progressive Forces for South Africa petitioned to bar Adetsina from the Miss Universe competition. They called on organizers to revoke her entry, arguing that her participation tainted the pageant’s integrity. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Home Affairs began the process to revoke her South African citizenship and travel documents.
“As Progressive Forces of South Africa, we are writing this letter on behalf of everyone who stands for justice to plead with you, Miss Universe, as an organisation to reconsider the contestant, Miss Nigeria Universe, and if possible, to cancel her entry. Miss Universe is a known brand of class, integrity, and hate to see the pageant losing its good image due to a contestant whose mother has been found guilty of stealing the identity of an innocent citizen and fair competition,” the petition read in part.
Undeterred, Adetsina embraced her Nigerian heritage, entering and winning the Miss Nigeria pageant. Representing Nigeria, she became the only African contestant to break into the Top 30 at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico.
Ultimately, she secured the 1st Runner-Up position – which makes her Miss Universe for Africa and Oceania - with Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig, crowned Miss Universe, and Miss Mexico, María Fernanda Beltrán Figueroa, finishing as the 2nd Runner-Up.
In an emotional Instagram post before the finale, Adetsina thanked Nigerians for embracing her during one of the darkest chapters of her life.
She wrote, “To my dearest Nigerians, with open arms, you carried me on wheels made of the purest love and intentions… Nigeria refuelled my purpose and my reason to live. As I step onto the Miss Universe stage tonight, I carry with me over 2 million beads of love, strength, and an unstoppable spirit.”
