In an exclusive interview with BBC News Pidgin, Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina shared her heart-wrenching story of resilience and determination, revealing the emotional turmoil she faced before winning the coveted title.
Chidimma, who was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria at the grand finale held at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos, will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageantry in Mexico. However, her journey to victory was marred by controversy and heartbreak.
The model, born to a South African mother and Nigerian father, was forced to withdraw from the Miss Universe South Africa pageantry in July due to questions surrounding her citizenship. Despite living in South Africa for 23 years, Chidimma faced rejection and discrimination, with many South Africans feeling she wasn’t “South African enough” because of her name.
Chidimma recounted the emotional pain she experienced, admitting that she had avoided talking about it because it was too distressing. “It’s not a nice feeling at all, and I think I’ve been avoiding it a lot, but it’s now starting to cloud and affect me, and I will have to deal with it and not suppress it,” she said.
Despite the setback, Chidimma found solace in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageantry, where she was invited to compete by National Director Guy Murray-Bruce. However, her journey was not without its challenges, as South Africans attempted to sabotage her chances by voting for another contestant, Ufa Dania, in a bid to spite her.
Nevertheless, Chidimma’s determination and the support of Nigerians paid off, as she emerged victorious, winning the title and the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the global stage.
Watch as she speak in the video below;
https://x.com/newslivesa/status/1830692494754918464?t=ZrHStrdKEfp6L1HBjovaBg&s=19
