Chidimma Adetshina: The people’s queen, by Vanessa Obioha

Last Sunday night in Mexico, many Nigerians believed that Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria, was on the verge of claiming the crown of Miss Universe on the international stage. The signs were everywhere at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City.

Adetshina soared through the rounds, first making the expanded list of 30 semi-finalists, then progressing to the final 12 after the swimsuit segment, and finally securing a spot in the top five after the evening gown competition.

Adetshina, a law student, earned even more accolades during the question-and-answer rounds.

Her brilliance shone, particularly in the second round, where she was asked to share her message with those watching.

“As a woman who has faced adversity, I feel like I have a powerful story. I don’t stand here as Chidimma Adetshina, I stand here as a symbol of hope, a beacon of faith, as someone who has persevered with grace. I believe I have fought for not only myself, but for Africa,” she responded.

Indeed, Adetshina has fought a battle of acceptance and identity. Her heritage first became a public debate in July when she participated in the Miss South Africa pageant, which sparked xenophobic attacks including cyber bullying.

Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina had always identified as South African, having only visited Nigeria once as a child.

South Africa felt like home, and when she decided to enter beauty pageants in 2022, it was naturally her first choice.

Although she wasn’t accepted that year, her determination saw her try again this year, reaching the finals—where all hell broke loose.

Her South African identity came under scrutiny as many questioned whether she was “South African enough” to represent the country.

A petition calling for her removal from the competition gathered more than 14,000 signatures before it was taken down.

“I am representing a country, but I don’t feel the love from the people I’m representing,” she said back then in an interview with Sowetan Live.

Nigerians decried the backlash as xenophobic, drawing parallels to the racial tensions that have long affected the Nigerian community in South Africa.

Between 2019 and February 2022, the News Agency of Nigeria estimated that at least 128 Nigerians were killed in the country.

Adetshina eventually withdrew from the competition, but soon after her exit, she received an offer to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria.

In what seemed like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she emerged victorious in the Nigerian competition, earning her the opportunity to represent Nigeria on the global stage.

While some may have seen her victory in Miss Universe Nigeria as a consolation, Adetshina proved her worth on Sunday night, earning widespread support.

Nigerians and others across social media cheered her on, hoping she would follow in Agbani Darego’s footsteps by making history for Nigeria once again — Darego stunned the world in 2001 as the first Nigerian to win Miss World.

The predictions for the crown swayed between Nigeria, Thailand, and Denmark, with nationalities far and wide rooting for Adetshina.

However, the crown ultimately went to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig. Though Adetshina did not take home the coveted title, her peers celebrated her even more than the winner.

As she walked to join her fellow contestants after the announcement, she was enveloped in a warm embrace.

At that moment, she was the people’s queen, much like the late Muhammad Ali, who became the people’s champion for using his platform to fight social injustice. Adetshina refused to let xenophobia define her. Instead, she rose above it, becoming a beacon of hope, perseverance, and resilience.

“I’m so excited,” the model gushed in a post-event interview clip shared on Miss Universe Nigeria X page. “I don’t have words to describe what I’m feeling right now, but I’m so proud of myself. I just made history.”

As the first runner-up of the Miss Universe pageant, Adetshina became the first Nigerian—and the first contestant from Africa—to advance that far. She was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin, Adetshina admitted that her goal was simply to make it to the top 30, but she exceeded her expectations.

She expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support she received not only from Nigerians but also from Africans.

“It’s an overwhelming experience. I never expected to receive so much love and support and it feels so refreshing to actually feel so loved and respected.”

Despite her historic achievement, Adetshina has decided to quit pageantry.

“Finishing in the top 2 is still a shocker for me. Honestly, I am done. Pageantry was a real traumatic experience for me,’’ she said during an interview on Silverbird Television.

She went on to discuss the impact of cyberbullying on her mental health.

“People don’t understand how I felt; I was down and didn’t want to do Miss Universe. But I’m done with pageantry, and I want to focus on myself and who I am and further my education.”

Though she didn’t take the Miss Universe crown, Adetshina’s journey is far from over. As she hinted at her plans to hit the runway and pursue a career in acting, it is clear that her future holds even more promise.

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