Chidimma Adetshina’s remarkable achievement at the 2024 Miss Universe competition has catapulted her into the global spotlight, but now, she’s making an unexpected move: taking a break from beauty pageants.
After securing the prestigious title of first runner-up making her the first-ever runner-up from both Nigeria and West Africa. Adetshina spoke candidly in an exclusive BBC Pidgin interview about the significance of her success and her plans for the future.
Her emotional reaction when she was called into the top five spoke volumes about the magnitude of the accomplishment. Adetshina admitted that she had mentally prepared herself for a top 30 finish, and surpassing that expectation left her proud and fulfilled. Besides this remarkable feat, she was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, adding another layer of distinction to her already groundbreaking achievement.
Despite the global attention and the heights she has reached in the beauty world, Adetshina expressed a desire to step away from pageants. Instead, she plans to focus on her education and explore new career avenues in modeling and acting.
“I want to put pageants aside for now and concentrate on my studies,” she said. “I also want to explore other opportunities to establish myself.” With her ambitions extending beyond the pageant world, she is particularly excited about diving into the worlds of runway modeling and acting.
Her path to the Miss Universe stage, however, wasn’t without its hurdles. Earlier this year, Adetshina was embroiled in a controversy surrounding her citizenship status in South Africa, which led to her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa competition. The South African Department of Home Affairs had launched an investigation into the legitimacy of her eligibility to participate, citing allegations of identity theft linked to her mother. Despite the challenges, Adetshina’s triumph at Miss Universe Nigeria opened the door for her to represent Nigeria on the world stage.
When asked about the citizenship controversy, Adetshina remained diplomatic, stating that she had not yet had the chance to fully understand the situation and intended to consult with her legal team before making any public statements. “Once I have all the facts, I will provide clarity on the matter,” she promised.
Now, as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Adetshina is poised to take on new responsibilities, including working on development-focused initiatives with the Miss Universe organization. While the specifics of her upcoming projects remain under wraps, she is prepared to travel to different countries and engage in projects aimed at creating positive social change.
With her career still unfolding, it’s clear that Chidimma Adetshina is not just a beauty queen, but a young woman with big plans for the future—plans that extend well beyond the world of pageantry.
