Miss Universe Nigeria has invited Chidimma Adetshina to join the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 competition after her recent withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant.
Chidimma, a finalist in the 2024 Miss South Africa contest, stepped down from the competition on August 8.
She faced criticism due to her Nigerian heritage, which led to a national debate and even a government investigation. Chidimma was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother and is now a naturalised South African.
In her announcement on Instagram, Chidimma said, “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.”
Following her withdrawal, Miss Universe Nigeria reached out to Chidimma on Instagram.
The organisation expressed understanding of the challenges she faced and offered their support, saying,
“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.”
Miss Universe Nigeria then extended an official invitation to Chidimma to compete in their 2024 pageant.
“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,” the message read.
The organisation highlighted that the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant celebrates the strength, intelligence, and diversity of Nigerian women, encouraging Chidimma to consider this new opportunity.
