Chidinma Adetshina, a model of Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, has emerged as the winner of Miss Universe Nigeria.
Chidinma represented Taraba State in the competition and ultimately secured the title.
By securing the title, Chidinma also won a cash prize of N10 million and will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico this November.
The Miss Universe Nigeria Beauty Pageant concluded on Saturday, August 31, 2024, at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, where Chidinma triumphed over 24 other contestants to claim the crown.
News About Nigeria reported that the model made headlines due to controversy surrounding her participation in the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant.
The controversy began shortly after the 23-year-old entered the Miss South Africa pageant, with critics questioning her eligibility based on her Nigerian heritage.
The debate escalated when a video of her marriage surfaced, leading some to argue that it violated the competition’s guidelines, which traditionally restrict participation to unmarried women.
However, the Miss South Africa organisation clarified that their rules do not disqualify contestants based on marital status or motherhood.
In her statement, Chidinma expressed gratitude for the support she received but ultimately chose to withdraw from the competition to prioritise her family’s well-being.
“Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey. However, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and I,” she wrote.
Adding to the controversy, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into Chidinma’s citizenship.
Preliminary findings suggest potential fraud and identity theft involving her mother, which could impact Chidinma’s citizenship status.
The department is conducting a thorough investigation to verify the authenticity of her citizenship.
Following her withdrawal, the Miss Universe Nigeria organisation extended an invitation to her to participate in the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she accepted.
