Miss Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has expressed her pride after making history by coming second in the Miss Universe competition. Parade reports she was also crowned Miss Africa and Oceania at the event held in Mexico City.
Adetshina said, “I’m so proud of myself, and I just made history,” even though she narrowly lost to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig.
According to the BBC, Adetshina’s journey wasn’t easy. She originally competed in the Miss South Africa contest, as she was born and raised there. However, she faced trolling and xenophobic abuse because her father is Nigerian.
The situation worsened last month when South African authorities announced plans to revoke her citizenship papers.
They alleged her mother, who is of Mozambican origin, committed identity fraud to gain South African nationality. The BBC noted that Adetshina was an infant at the time and could not have been involved.
Due to the controversy, Adetshina chose to compete for Miss Nigeria instead. She won the title, which allowed her to qualify for Miss Universe.
Despite her success, some South Africans criticized her after Miss Universe South Africa congratulated her on social media, using both South African and Nigerian flags. This led to further backlash, with some people saying she didn’t represent them.
Adetshina, a law student, told the BBC in September that she feels “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.” Despite the negativity, she remains resilient. She also plans to seek therapy to deal with the trauma caused by the abuse she faced.
The BBC highlighted that Adetshina is the highest-placed black African woman in Miss Universe since Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa won in 2019.
Her achievement is a significant moment for representation, especially after facing such adversity. This story is a reminder of the strength needed to rise above challenges and celebrate one’s heritage, as the BBC emphasized.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j85yy5yg2o