Chidimma Adetshina, Nigeria’s representative at the 73rd Miss Universe Pageant held at Arena Ciudad de México, emerged as the first runner-up during the final on November 16.
This marks the first time a Nigerian has come so close to winning the prestigious Miss Universe competition. Adetshina also made history as the first Nigerian beauty queen to place in the top five of the pageant.
Of the 125 contestants who vied for the crown, only Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer, who was crowned Miss Universe 2024, ranked ahead of Adetshina.
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Adetshina, who holds the title of Miss Universe Nigeria, was also named Miss Universe Africa and Oceania 2024 by the organisers. She is the highest-ranked African contestant in the 2024 edition of Miss Universe.
Nigerians have taken to social media to celebrate her stupendous landmark, praising her resilience and courage after xenophobic challenges unleashed on her by some South Africans did not stop her from standing tall on one of the world’s biggest pageant stages.
Adetshina, born to a Nigerian father in South Africa, would have competed in the Miss South Africa University 2024 competition but stepped down due to xenophobic attacks. She later competed in Nigeria and was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 before representing Nigeria at the global pageant competition.
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