Breaking: Chidimma Adetshina emerges as first runner-up at Miss Universe 2024

The Miss Universe pageant is beyond mere beauty contests; it’s a commemoration of beauty, culture, brains, and substance. This year, the 73rd edition of Miss Universe was held on November 16, 2024, in Mexico City, and more than 120 participants from all over the world presented their talents. Among them were Nigeria’s Chidimma Adetshina, who emerged as first runner-up, a feat that impressed many and brought joy.

Chidimma Adetshina

The life journey of Chidimma Adetshina to join the Miss Universe stage has been one that shows how determined she is. Becoming the first runner-up, she became the first Nigerian to attain such a feat in the Miss Universe competition. She lives out her success both for herself and for Nigeria on the international stage of beauty pageantry.

Adetshina’s journey started when she competed for Taraba State at the Miss Universe Nigeria beauty pageant, which she won out of 24 contestants. This success may have been sweeter, especially given her previous experiences that involved a lot of fuss. Adetshina had first enrolled for the Miss South Africa pageant but was later dropped from the list because of problems that surrounded her nationality as well as some allegations about her mother’s paperwork. However, she did not give up, and she was able to compete for Nigeria with honor.

The Miss Universe 2024 event was named as one of the most exciting events of recent years. The last couple of minutes were especially intense, with Adetshina and Denmark’s Victoria Kjaer standing across from each other before the latter won the championship. The event was a success for everyone as it promised—it showcased the beauty of the contestants, their intelligence, and their elegance.

Adetshina was a great performer throughout the competition. In her performance, right from donning the national costume elegantly to her words during the final questioning round, she had both the judges and the audience spellbound.

A question about cultural representation was answered with equal passion by her, while her understanding of cultural weight was well demonstrated.

Generally, it seemed that Chidimma Adetshina made it her personal mission to uplift members of her culture through pride and power. From the competition, she was weaving beautiful stories of strength and optimism while also celebrating her Nigerian origin with the world.

However, as stated by Adetshina in her own words;

“I realized that beauty does not lie just in the mirror; it is in the stories; it is in the cultures. I am very fortunate to have been born a Nigerian. I want other people to be proud of what they are.”

Such a statement may be attributed to a recent shift to the traditional beauty pageants, where the contestants begin to raise socially relevant issues and cultural sensitivity.

It is a true success story, just like the Miss World victory of Agbani Darego in 2001, which revolutionized the perception of beauty with young African women. Darego’s triumph was one of the turning points in Nigeria, and Adetshina’s portrayal at Miss Universe 2024 retains this trajectory.

Victoria Kjaer, after winning the title of Miss Universe 2024, will focus on the charitable work and female support in the entire world during one year. However, the journey of Adetshina does not just end here. A remarkable performance has paved the way for future prospects. She is ready to further the cause of cultural representation and activism for women.

Chidimma Adetshina’s journey as the first runner-up in the Miss Universe 2024 competition is not just a stage victory but holds a lot of value and meaning outside the stage too. As she remains an example to the rest, her work will without doubt enable other Nigerian women to excel in the future all over the world.

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As quoted by Adetshina Chidimma;