Chidimma Accepts Invite to Participate in Miss Universe Nigeria
Chidimma Adetshina, the pageant hopeful who was forced to withdraw from Miss South Africa due to a nationality row, has officially accepted an invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant. The 23-year-old, who captured the hearts of many during her time in the South African competition, shared the exciting news in a video posted to her Instagram account, expressing her enthusiasm for the opportunity. “I’m looking forward to participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant,” she said with a beaming smile.
The invitation from Miss Universe Nigeria came shortly after Chidimma announced her withdrawal from Miss South Africa, citing concerns for her family’s safety. The controversy began when allegations surfaced regarding her citizenship, with claims that her South African nationality was obtained through alleged identity theft committed by her mother. Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Chidimma faced both support and criticism for her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant.
On August 8th, Chidimma made the difficult decision to step down from the Miss South Africa competition. In her announcement, she expressed deep gratitude for the experience while also highlighting the importance of her family’s well-being. “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 myself from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and me. With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience,” Chidimma shared on Instagram.
The Miss Universe Nigeria organization responded swiftly to the situation, acknowledging the challenges Chidimma faced and extending a formal invitation for her to join their competition. The invitation letter read, “DEAR MISS ADETSHINA, We at Miss Universe Nigeria have been closely following the developments regarding your decision to bow out of the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. We acknowledge the circumstances surrounding your withdrawal and understand the challenges you may be facing. In light of these events, we want to extend our support and encouragement.”
The letter continued, “We believe that your journey in the world of pageantry is far from over and that there are still numerous opportunities for you to showcase your talent, grace, and beauty. As a Nigerian by heritage, we would like to formally invite you to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant. This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage, and we believe you would be an outstanding contender.”
Chidimma’s acceptance of the invitation marks a new chapter in her pageantry journey. While her experience in Miss South Africa was cut short, she now has the chance to represent her Nigerian heritage on an international stage, potentially following in the footsteps of past Miss Universe Nigeria winners who have gone on to achieve global recognition.
