Victory at Last for Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina
“Victory belongs to the most persevering.” – Napoleon Bonaparte
He who laughs last indeed laughs best. Chidimma Adetshina has stood against all odds as she emerges the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, 2024. She has made history, becoming the first Nigerian to finish as the first runner-up at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant held at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico, on November 16, 2024. Adetshina lost to Victoria Kjær, who represented Denmark in the competition and earned the crown as the winner of Miss Universe, 2024.
However, despite Adetshina’s victory in second place, there was a lot of celebration and jubilation among Nigerians, especially knowing how hard she fought to turned the tide to get to the top. Recall how she was a victim to xenophobia in South Africa, being born of a South African mother and to a Nigerian father. Adetshina was forced to withdraw from competing for the crown of Miss South Africa, due to the backlashes against her, questioning her nationality as a South African. Nevertheless, Adetshina received an invitation from Ben Murray-Bruce, the founder of Silverbird Group, the organizers of Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN), to contest for the crown of Miss Universe Nigeria in her fatherland. Adetshina went on to represent Taraba State in the competition, won the title of Miss Universe Nigeria, and went further to represent Nigeria on the global stage.
This victory attained by Adetshina was earned by hard work, resilience, and dedication and this is something everyone could clearly see. Her victory made headlines as she received congratulatory messages from distinguished personalities in and outside Nigeria such as Peter Obi, the presidential aspirant of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 Nigerian elections and Bianca, a former 1988 MBGN winner. On Monday 18th November 2024, Bianca posted on her Instagram page:
“A BIG Congratulations to our very own. Resilience, perseverance and true grit will always win the day. Kudos to Chidimma Adetshina who has done the Nation proud.”
Also, Peter Obi commended Adetshina’s victory. He posted on X:
“I followed, with keen attention, the journey of our Nigerian beauty queen, Chidimma Adetshina, and her rise to stardom. I can only describe her journey as a demonstration of resilience, perseverance, and dedication. Through her struggles and challenging times, she held on to faith, hope, and determination to rise to the top. Today, she has emerged victorious…”
Chidimma in appreciation of all the support she got, which gave her the required impetus to attain her victory, posted as follows:
“To Nigeria: Thank you is not enough for all the support you’ve shown. You picked me up when I was at my lowest. I have never opened up; I was ready to give up on my life but you became my strength. On days I never wanted to fight, you gave me the strength to fight. I am so grateful for each and every one walking this journey with me.”
She added: “To Africa: thank you for showing your love and support. As much as I represent Nigeria, Africa fought for me, my voice; my story touched many and brought us together. This journey has taught me the power of unity. I want us to live in a society where we can all accept and celebrate one another. This is not the end but the beginning of my journey. Love Miss Universe 1st runner up.”
Meanwhile, our amiable Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Chidimma Adetshina, also resolves as follows.
“It is permanent. I have decided I’m no longer going to do pageants. I feel like I did my best. I made myself proud. I made Nigeria proud, and I outdid myself. I don’t think there’s anything more I could do. It was a traumatic experience for me, and I don’t think I would like to revisit this again. It’s something I’m going to have to put behind me, but it’s also something I hold in my heart.”
In conclusion, the reward of hard work, resilience and dedication is great success. This is a formula that can’t change, as evidently seen in the life of the beauty queen, Chidimma Adetshina. If you are reading this and you are going through one hardship, challenge or the other, let Adetshina’s story serve as an inspiration to you. Just hang in there a little longer. Stay resilient, diligent and dedicated in all your endeavors, and your victory is on its way. Remember, “success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts”-Winston Churchill. We hope to see more of Adetshina’s radiant face, achieving historic milestones as she journeys through life.
By Kofoworola Oladoke
Success is not for the faint hearted. She earned this.