Nigeria’s representative, Chidimma Adetshina, has emerged as the first runner-up at the 73rd Miss Universe Competition held in Mexico.

Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig was crowned the winner of the Miss Universe pageant at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, in the early hours of Sunday, November 17, 2024.

“The final two! Nigeria and Denmark, two incredible women, one unforgettable moment,” the organisers stated in a post on Instagram.

Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant hounded over a nationality row, was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria on August 31, 2024.

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

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 in Lagos State.

Chidimma Adetshina wins Miss Universe Nigeria after South Africa row

She said she withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant “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, the 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, 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.

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

The Star