Chidimma Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant hounded over a nationality row, has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria.

Adetshina from Taraba State defeated 24 other contestants for the coveted title at the grand finale of the beauty pageant held at Eko Hotel and Suites on Saturday night.

Born to a Nigerian father in South Africa, the 23-year-old beauty queen recently withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant.

She said she withdrew from the competition “for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I” after a backlash that exposed anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa”.

Her Nigerian heritage attracted vicious xenophobic attacks and sparked controversy when she was announced as a Miss South Africa finalist in July, while the government said it was investigating a claim that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman.

Despite not being in the country in 20 years, organisers of the Nigerian contest invited her to join their final, saying it was a chance for her to “represent your father’s native land on an international stage”.

Speaking on her victory on Saturday, Adetshina said: “This journey has been a tough journey for me and I am so proud of myself and I’m really grateful for the love and the support.

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“This is something that I’ve always wanted, and I’m really glad that I have a second shot as well at achieving it.”

First runner-up Paula Ezendu stated: “We all need to stop with the xenophobia; with the tribalism.

“We’re all one family. We’re all human beings.”

The nationality controversy notwithstanding, Adetshina insisted she loved South Africa and was grateful for the support from the country.

As the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Adetshina will represent the country at the international Miss Universe competition slated for November in Mexico.

“I know we are going to win,” she told reporters on Saturday.

The Star