Miss Universe Nigeria: I didn’t get a pity win, I worked hard – Chidimma Adetshina

The newly-crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has stated that she didn’t get a pity win.

Adetshina said this while reacting to the criticism she received after her win.

Speaking in an interview on Arise News on Friday, she made it clear that she worked hard to emerge as the winner of the pageant.

“A lot of people felt like it was a pity win. I don’t think so. I feel like I really worked so hard, coming from the South Africa journey. We spent like 10 weeks, camp, going through the whole journey.

“It might have been a slight difference compared to everybody else, but if you have to look at the journey that we have all been through, I feel like I really had the same experience with other contestants.” (Related articles: ‘I cry myself to sleep over my identity crisis’ – Ex Miss South Africa contestant, Chidimma Adetshina reveals, Chidimma Adetshina: Hounded South African beauty queen wins Miss Universe Nigeria, Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, to seek therapy over xenophobic abuse)

Adetshina was forced to withdraw from South Africa’s version of the beauty pageant in August 2024, following allegations of fraud and identity theft involving her mother.

Due to xenophobic backlash and rejection over her nationality, Chidimma subsequently accepted an invitation to join the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she eventually won.