Chidimma Adetshina, the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, has announced she will be stepping back from beauty pageants following her remarkable performance at the 2024 Miss Universe competition. In an exclusive interview with BBC Pidgin, Adetshina expressed pride in her unexpected achievement, becoming the first runner-up in the global pageant held on November 16 in Mexico City.
Adetshina, who also earned the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, was one of 126 contestants from around the world. She described her emotional journey, saying, “I was so emotional when I was called into the top five. I had prepared myself just to make it into the top 30. Surpassing my own expectations made me proud.”
Despite her success, the 23-year-old revealed plans to focus on her education and explore new career opportunities in modelling and acting. “I want to put pageants aside for now and concentrate on my studies. I’m also looking forward to exploring runways, acting, and seeing where my potential takes me,” she stated.
Adetshina’s journey to Miss Universe was marked by controversy earlier this year, including an investigation into her South African citizenship. She withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant amid the inquiry and later went on to win Miss Universe Nigeria.
Looking ahead, Adetshina will collaborate with the Miss Universe organization on various development projects, travelling across countries to promote initiatives. She also plans to address the citizenship issue once she consults with her legal team.
