Chidinma Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant, has declared her intention to win the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant and learn more about her Nigerian descent.
The 23-year-old stated this in an interview with News Live SA posted on X.com on Thursday.
According to Adetshina, this is her first time in Nigeria after 20 years and she is indeed interested in Nigerian culture.
She said, “I’m just really excited that I’m in my father’s land and I wanna get to experience more about it.
“It’s been 20 years since I’ve been here, so I just wanna get to know more about Nigeria’s culture and where I really come from.”
Speaking on the Miss Universe Nigeria pageantry, Adetshina said, “My goal is to obviously win the crown for Miss Universe Nigeria.”
“As a woman who has obviously faced diversity, I want to use my story to bring people together,” she added.
Adetshina also called on people to use her story, be willing to embrace diversity, and celebrate it with the goal of building a stronger community that benefits everyone.
The former Miss South Africa contestant will be participating in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 beauty pageant representing Miss Taraba. She was invited for the pageantry following her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant.
Adetshina had dropped out just days before the pageant’s grand finale after significant backlash over questions regarding her nationality.
The questions had centered around her family background, particularly allegations involving her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother. The pair have been accused of fraud and identity theft, allegations that have drawn significant public attention and pressure on the young contestant.
“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 from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and me.”
“With the support of the Miss South Africa organization, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience. I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all of the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all,” she had said in her withdrawal statement.
