Chidimma Adetshina, the newly-crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, has responded to the criticism following her win. Many people assumed she won out of pity, but Chidimma is standing firm, saying her victory was a result of hard work and dedication.

Addressing Criticism:
After her win, Chidimma faced negative comments and criticism from those who believed she didn’t deserve the title. However, during an interview with Arise News, she made it clear that her journey to the crown was not easy. She emphasized that she put in the effort and earned her place as Miss Universe Nigeria.

Setback in South Africa:
Before joining the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, Chidimma had been a contestant in South Africa’s beauty contest. Unfortunately, she had to withdraw from the competition in August 2024 due to serious allegations involving her mother, who was accused of fraud and identity theft. These claims put her under intense pressure, leading to her decision to step down.

Facing Xenophobia:
In addition to the allegations, Chidimma also faced backlash and rejection due to her Nigerian nationality while in South Africa. This xenophobic treatment pushed her to look for other opportunities, and she accepted the invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.

Chidimma said,

“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.”

Watch the video below

A Well-Deserved Win:
Chidimma eventually triumphed in the Miss Universe Nigeria competition, proving that she could overcome both personal and public challenges. She wants people to know that her victory wasn’t out of sympathy but came from her determination and the hard work she put into preparing for the pageant.