2 days ago
Chidimma Adetshina Ranked 2nd in Miss Universe 2024 Pre-Arrival Hot Picks
Chidimma Adetshina, the Nigerian beauty queen, has been ranked second in the world’s pre-arrival hot picks for the Miss Universe 2024 pageant. This was revealed in a viral poll on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, ahead of the competition, which will take place on November 16 in Mexico. At 23 years old, Adetshina's ranking has generated excitement among Nigerians, who believe she stands a strong chance of winning.
Chidimma arrived in Mexico in October to compete for the prestigious crown, but her journey has not been without controversy. She was at the center of a fierce nationality dispute after her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant. Her eligibility was questioned due to her mixed heritage—her mother has Mozambican roots, and her father is Nigerian. This sparked an investigation by South Africa's Department of Home Affairs, leading to accusations of "identity theft" related to her mother's South African citizenship.
In August 2024, Chidimma withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition after the department revealed that her mother might have used fraudulent means to obtain South African citizenship. The scandal resulted in a wave of xenophobic backlash, which led Chidimma to seek therapy to cope with the emotional toll. The Department of Home Affairs further moved to revoke both Chidimma and her mother's South African identities, referring the case to the Hawks, South Africa's elite police unit, which has since labeled it as a "case of fraud."
Despite the controversy, Chidimma pressed on and won the Miss Universe Nigeria title. She explained in interviews that, although born in South Africa's Soweto township, she considers herself both "proudly South African" and "proudly Nigerian."
Now, representing Nigeria at Miss Universe, Chidimma is determined to put the past behind her and focus on the future. She will compete against other global contestants, including this year’s Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux. With her remarkable resilience and beauty, many are hopeful she will emerge victorious on November 16.
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