In a captivating finale to the fiercely contested Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant, Chidimma Adetshina has been crowned the new queen. The event, held on Saturday night at the Eko Convention Centre in Lagos, featured 25 contestants from different Nigerian states, each championing social causes like women’s empowerment, mental health, and environmental sustainability.
Ms. Adetshina’s victory follows a challenging experience in the Miss South Africa pageant, where she encountered backlash over her Nigerian heritage. Despite this, her resilience and determination have propelled her to win the top spot in one of Nigeria’s most prestigious beauty pageants.
After her win, Silverbird Group President Guy Murray-Bruce announced that the dark-skinned beauty will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico. Along with the crown, she will be awarded a cash prize of N10 million.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Ms. Adetshina expressed her gratitude: “I feel so amazing. I want to start by saying thank you to each of you for your love and support. This crown is not just about beauty; it’s a call to action, and that’s unity.”
Ms. Adetshina, a passionate advocate for using her platform to promote inclusion, previously stated, “As a woman who has faced adversity, I want to use my voice and the Miss Universe Nigeria platform to promote inclusion and acceptance, and to educate people on the power of diversity in building a strong community that benefits everyone.”
The outgoing Miss Universe Nigeria 2023, Mitchel Ugochi Ukachukwu, and Miss Supranational Nigeria, Sectra Sede, took the stage to hand over their crowns.
Public voting was crucial, with the top three contestants receiving the highest number of votes securing spots in the Top 10, significantly boosting their chances of winning the title. In preparation for the final event, the contestants underwent intensive training at the Festival Hotel in Festac, Lagos, marking a memorable milestone in Nigerian pageantry.
