“And I just made history,”

In mid-November, a tenacious Nigerian beauty contestant stood on the edge of achieving an astonishing accomplishment in world pageantry. Amidst a fiercely contested identity issue, while contesting to be Miss South Africa, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina dropped out of the event, switched to a Nigerian passport, and won the Miss Universe Nigeria beauty pageant. Thereafter, she entered the 73rd Miss Universe contest in Mexico, became the only African in the top 5, and stood moments away from becoming the second black African woman to be crowned Miss Universe.

“And I just made history,” Chidimma said after she took second position behind Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, Miss Universe 2024. Quite fittingly, not since South Africa’s Zozibini Tunzi won the Miss Universe crown in 2019, had any black African woman come so close to winning again. Miss Chidimma’s stunning beauty saw her emerging as Miss Universe Africa & Oceania 2024. But this remarkable feat did not come without trying moments for the 23-year-old law student.

In August, Chidinmma Vanessa Adetshina was in the shadows of winning the Miss South Africa 2024 beauty pageant when controversies surrounding her true South African identity emerged, hobbling her progress.

With strong allegations that her native Mozambican mother may have transitioned into a South African identity at the time of baby Chidimma’s birth, thereby committing national identity theft, Chidimma was thrown into crisis mode as she eyed the Miss South Africa crown. Eventually, prevailing circumstances forced her to withdraw participation in the event.

Momentarily stateless, Chidimma resorted to her father’s Nigerian heritage. Nigerian authorities warmly received and accorded to her all rights and privileges of a Nigerian citizen. Organizers of the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant and the government of the southeastern state of Enugu generously courted the ambitious young Nigerian. The 23-year-old eventually became the state’s brand ambassador, enjoying media visibility and prominence.
In September, Chidimma edged out other strong contenders to win the Miss Universe Nigeria beauty pageant, eliciting mixed reactions from South Africans and Nigerians. During the beauty contest in Nigeria, Chidimma’s tenacity emphasized her passion and ambition amidst her identity crisis and personal battles that threatened to overshadow her stunning winning qualities.

According to South African authorities, Miss Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina couldn’t possibly have committed identity theft at birth. She was only embroiled in the crisis by her mother’s purported action.

In October, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs said it would strip Chidimma Adetshina of the country’s nationality. According to Tommy Makhode, the department’s Director-General, Adetshina and her mother failed to meet a deadline to justify why they shouldn’t have their national identification documents revoked.

As crisis brewed around Chidimma, the 23-year-old demonstrated an audacity to participate and win. This sentiment was evident when she quickly turned to Nigeria for succor amidst online trolls and a growing concern for her well-being both online and offline.

With her latest achievements and the global opportunities opening up for her, Chidimma has triumphed personally and collectively, inspiring a new generation of women to dare to win despite daunting odds and identity crises.

1. While more remains to be achieved, African women have remarkably held their heads up at the Miss Universe pageant.  The continent can achieve more if it unites behind Africa’s future representatives despite differences in race or nationality. Chidimma’s identity crisis can serve as a lesson, marking a turning point in trans-national relations on the continent and further afield. The encouragement and uplifting of struggling women in the public sphere is significant because it offers a feeling of community and love. Moreover, it also recognizes women’s audacity, talents, and staying power. Again, it supports the idea that everyone can win if given the right network and support while chasing personal and collective dreams.

Chidimma’s global fame in international pageantry has strengthened attempts by young African women looking to live their global dreams in modeling and international pageantry. Her epic story is a solid testament to what dreams and tenacity can achieve regardless of race, place, and the circumstances of birth and identity. 
“As someone who has persevered with grace, I believe I have fought for not only myself, but for Africa,” Chidimma said.