
Audio By Carbonatix
Miss Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has spoken of her pride at coming second in the Miss Universe competition, as well as being named Miss Africa and Oceania.
"I'm so proud of myself and I just made history," she said, shortly after losing out to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjær Theilvig.
Adetshina originally competed in the Miss South Africa contest, as she was born and grew up in the country, however, she was subjected to trolling and xenophobic abuse because her father is Nigerian.
Last month, the South African authorities said they would strip her of her identity papers, following allegations that her mother, who has Mozambican roots, had committed identity fraud to gain South African nationality.
Neither Adetshina nor her mother have commented on the allegations. South African authorities pointed out that Adetshina could not have participated in any alleged fraud as she was an infant at the time.
After the furore in South Africa and the doubts about her nationality, she competed in the Miss Nigeria competition, which she won to qualify for the Miss Universe contest held in Mexico City.
The eventual winner of Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux, pulled out of Miss Universe last week citing an undisclosed medical condition. She was the first deaf woman to become Miss South Africa.
In September, Adetshina, a law student, told the BBC that she still saw herself as "proudly South African" and "proudly Nigerian".
But after Miss Universe South Africa tweeted to congratulate her on her second place, along with both South African and Nigerian flags, some South Africans responded by saying she did not represent them.
In her BBC interview, Adetshina said she would be seeking therapy to help her deal with the trauma following the abuse she was subjected to.
She is the highest-placed black African woman in Miss Universe since South Africa's Zozibini Tunzi won the competition in 2019.
Latest Stories
-
EU envoys meet to negotiate 21st Russia sanctions package
27 minutes -
Actor Rebel Wilson did not defame colleague in social media posts, Australian court finds
38 minutes -
Fewer children got US-backed HIV treatment after aid cuts, study finds
44 minutes -
Nike to tighten online sales in China amid ‘cluttered’ marketplace
53 minutes -
Iraq’s oil minister says US energy deals worth about $200 billion
1 hour -
Oil prices rise slightly after US announces new round of strikes on Iran
1 hour -
US, China to hold AI talks in September, sources say
2 hours -
Alphabet’s Gemini delay, spending worries loom over earnings
2 hours -
TikTok US chief security officer to testify before US House on September 15
2 hours -
OpenAI says AI models went rogue during testing, triggering ‘unprecedented’ breach at startup
2 hours -
Great Apes kiss and cuddle to keep the peace, says study
2 hours -
Iraola wants Mac Allister & Alisson to stay with Liverpool
2 hours -
Bournemouth reject £64m bid from Chelsea for Scott
3 hours -
Al-Hilal agree £60m deal for West Ham’s Summerville
3 hours -
‘Pressure is intense and scrutiny constant’ – referee Taylor retires
3 hours