The crowning of Chidinma Adetshina as Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 has ignited a storm of reactions on social media, revealing a sharp divide in public opinion about the pageant’s outcome.
Chidinma, a 23-year-old law student, clinched the title last Saturday amid a swirl of controversy. Her journey to the crown was marked by unexpected twists, including her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant due to allegations of identity fraud against her mother. This withdrawal, which she made to protect her family, led to her late entry into the Miss Universe Nigeria contest.
Many social media users expressed skepticism and frustration over Chidinma’s victory. Critics accused the pageant organizers of manipulating the outcome in her favor. For instance, Instagram user halalamasiya commented, “Flew her over to give her the crown. What an interesting country,” while marveyr questioned the fairness of the process, noting that Chidinma had not gone through the same rigorous selection as other contestants.
dimplebeauty suggested that the competition was compromised as soon as Chidinma returned to Nigeria, accusing the organizers of favoritism. Seeking0 alleged that Chidinma was treated preferentially during the competition, being given advantages that other contestants did not receive.
Conversely, some users defended Chidinma’s win, highlighting her resilience and unique story. eveaboka from South Africa praised Chidinma’s achievement, calling it “well deserved,” and tikklerr lauded her for bringing global visibility to the competition. sawuroyalbeauty and Vivian darego also supported Chidinma, with the latter expressing confidence in the judges’ decision.
In her acceptance speech, Chidinma Adetshina described her victory as a significant moment for her and for Nigeria. She vowed to use her platform to make a positive impact, stating, “I wear this crown with so much pride and I would make Nigeria proud.”
The pageant’s organizers and Chidinma’s supporters hope that the controversy surrounding her win will eventually subside, allowing her to focus on her role and the opportunities it presents.
