WRITTEN IN THE STARS, CHIDIMMA’S FAIRYTALE

MEXICO CITY. – There was always going to a political angle to Chidimma Adetshina’s participation at the Miss Universe beauty pageant this year.

That she almost came to winning the award just raised the temperature given all the controversy which has been following her.

The Miss Universe Nigeria, who started her quest by trying to win the Miss Universe South Africa before she was hounded out because of her Nigerian links, came SECOND in the Miss Universe contest.

She won the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania crowns.

After the furore in South Africa, and the doubts about her nationality, she competed in the Miss Nigeria competition, which she won to qualify for the Miss Universe contest held here.

The eventual winner of Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux, pulled out of Miss Universe last week citing an undisclosed medical condition.

She was the first deaf woman to become Miss South Africa.

In September, Chidimma, a law student, told the BBC that she still saw herself as a proudly South African and proudly Nigerian.

But after Miss Universe South Africa tweeted to congratulate her on her second place, along with both South African and Nigerian flags, some South Africans responded by saying she did not represent them.

In her BBC interview, Chidimma said she would be seeking therapy to help her deal with the trauma following the abuse she was subjected to.

She is the highest placed black African woman in Miss Universe since South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi won the competition in 2019.

She has spoken of her pride at coming second in the Miss Universe competition, as well as being named Miss Africa and Oceania.

“I’m so proud of myself and I just made history,” she said, shortly after losing out to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig.

Last month, the South African authorities said they would strip her of her identity papers, following allegations that her mother, who has Mozambican roots, had committed identity fraud to gain South African nationality.

Here are some records Chidimma

Adetshina broke:

She is the first runner-up ever from Nigeria and West Africa

Not only was she part of the top five, she made it to the top two and became the first runner-up from Nigeria in history. Additionally, no other Nigerian or West African had ever made it that far.

She is the only Nigerian and African to make it to the top five at the Miss Universe Competition this year Before Chidimma became one of the top five finalists in the Miss Universe competition, no Nigerian contestant had ever achieved such a feat. This historic milestone marks the first time a Nigerian has advanced to the top five in the pageant’s history. Furthermore, no Nigerian contestant has ever been a top-two finalist.
She breaks Nigeria’s losing streak since 2014. Nigeria’s sole awards at the Miss Universe competition have been for Best National Costume and Miss Congeniality. These awards are not placements. In 2012, Maristella Okpala’s stunning masquerade costume earned the Best National Costume award.Two years later, Queen Osem Celestine was recognised for her friendly and outgoing personality, winning the Miss Congeniality title.
She is the first Nigerian to get a placement. For years, Nigeria drops out of the competition without any placement. Only once has Nigeria made the top 10 in 2001 when Agbani Darego contested and the top 20 in 2019 when Olutosin Araromi contested, all other years, they were unplaced.
She is the first Miss Universe Africa and Oceania from Nigeria. Being a first runner-up comes with its own gifts, titles, and privileges. She represents the entire continent of Africa and the fourteen countries in Oceania, including New Zealand and Australia. – BBC/Pulse