Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina officially joins Nigeria’s beauty pageant after South Africa’s controversy

Chidimma Vanessa Onw Adetshina has accepted the invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 beauty pageant On August 14, 2024. This comes after she withdrew from the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant competition due to a controversy over her citizenship.

The beauty model expressed her gratitude to her supporters and confirmed her participation in a video shared on social media.

“After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I.”, she said through her video on social media.

Chidimma has expressed her excitement and enthusiasm for the opportunity to compete in what she described as Africa’s most recognized beauty contest. The announcement has garnered widespread support from fans and celebrities, with many wishing her well in the upcoming competition.

On August 8th, Adetshina, 23, announced her withdrawal from the pageant on social media, claiming her family’s safety as her first priority.

The law student’s involvement in the South Africa pageant has sparked heated debate, with some doubting her eligibility due to her Nigerian origin.

The dispute sparked xenophobic assaults on social media and garnered reactions from politicians, celebrities, and the general public, further polarizing attitudes across the country.

Adetshina, who was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican origin, has encountered backlash from South Africans since her announcement as a finalist in July.

Despite the prejudice, she received a substantial outpouring of support from those who bolstered her right to compete.