By Ayomide Otitoju
Chidinma Adetshina, representing Taraba State, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, emerging victorious among 24 contestants at the prestigious pageant’s grand finale held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday night.
The 23-year-old beauty queen, who recently made headlines after withdrawing from the Miss South Africa pageant due to a controversy surrounding her Nigerian heritage, captivated the audience and judges alike, securing the highest number of votes throughout the competition. Her victory ensures that she will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, set to take place later this year in Mexico.
Adetshina succeeds last year’s titleholder, Mitchell Ikachukwu, and will carry forward the mantle of Nigerian beauty and excellence on the global stage. Her journey to the crown was marked by resilience and grace, especially following her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant, a decision she made in response to xenophobic attacks and allegations of fraud against her family by the South African Home Affairs ministry.
“After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I,” Adetshina wrote on Instagram following the controversy. Despite the challenges, she returned to Nigeria and quickly became a fan favorite in the Miss Universe Nigeria competition.
The pageant also saw other winners emerge, with Miss Anambra taking the first runner-up position, earning the title of Miss Supranational, and Miss Ondo finishing as the second runner-up, known as Miss Lush. Special awards were given to Miss Rivers and Miss Kwara, while Miss Oyo won the Top Model award, Miss Imo claimed Best Costume, and Miss Abuja was recognized with the Best Talent award.
The top 10 finalists included contestants from Kwara, Edo, Taraba, Anambra, Ogun, Plateau, Lagos, Rivers, Ekiti, and Ondo. The top five were narrowed down to Taraba, Rivers, Edo, Ondo, and Anambra, with Adetshina ultimately crowned as Miss Universe Nigeria by the judges’ decision.
Adetshina’s victory not only highlights her personal strength but also reflects the vibrant diversity and resilience of Nigerian women on the global stage. As she prepares to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, her story continues to inspire many across the nation and beyond.
