Beauty queen wins Miss Nigeria after South Africa row
Africa
By
AFP
| Sep 01, 2024
A former Miss South Africa contestant hounded over a nationality row was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria on Saturday, capping a difficult few weeks for the beauty queen.
Born to a Nigerian father in South Africa, 23-year-old Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from the country's competition "for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I" after a backlash that exposed anti-foreigner sentiment in South Africa.
"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," Adetshina told AFP minutes after being crowned in Nigeria's commercial capital of Lagos.
READ MORE
DR Congo, M23 fighters trade accusations over ceasefire
Angola proposes new DR Congo ceasefire
South Africa to withdraw troops from UN mission in DR Congo
Kipyegon among super-fast stars invited for Sirikwa Classic XC tour
Deadly landslide strikes M23 held mining site in DRC
DR Congo city residents forced to adapt during year of M23 rule
South Korean ex-PM Han gets 23 years jail for martial law role
Uhuru warns against fragmented peace talks for eastern DRC
In east DR Congo, minors face systematic risk of sexual violence
"This is something that I've always wanted, and I'm really glad that I have a second shot as well at achieving it," Adetshina said.
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, 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".
"We all need to stop with the xenophobia... with the tribalism," first runner-up Paula Ezendu told AFP.
"We're all one family. We're all human beings," she added.
The nationality controversy notwithstanding, Adetshina insisted she loved South Arica and was grateful for the support from the country.
She will represent Nigeria at the international Miss Universe competition in November.
"I know we are going to win," she told reporters.