Who is Chidimma Adetshina? All about Miss Universe Nigeria 2024

Chidimma Adetshina is a Nigerian-South African beauty pageant model currently holding Miss Nigeria 2024 and Miss Universe Africa and Oceania 2024. However, Chidimma has had a series of controversies regarding her true nationality, which led her to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant in 2024.

I don’t have any animosity towards South Africa. Because at the end of the day it is still a place that I call home, no matter how painful it is to say it.

Key takeaways

• Chidimma has a multicultural background—her father is Nigerian of Igbo descent, and her mother is Mozambican.
• Adetshina was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria after withdrawing from the Miss South Africa pageant due to xenophobic backlash against her.
• She holds the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania crown, besides being the first runner-up for Miss Universe 2024.

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Chidimma Adetshina's profile summary

Exploring the life of Chidimma Adetshina: all about Miss Universe Africa and Oceania

Chidimma first gained public attention as a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant. However, she withdrew due to controversy over her citizenship and identity, which sparked xenophobic backlash. Adetshina later competed in Miss Universe Nigeria and won the title in August 2024.

In November 2024, Chidimma represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico City. She became the first runner-up after Victoria Kjær Theilvig from Denmark. Additionally, she was crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania for being the highest-ranked African contestant.

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A look into Chidimma Adetshina's biography and early life

Chidimma, whose full name is Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina (age 24 years as of 2025), was born in Soweto, South Africa, on January 8, 2001. She is a law student at Varsity College, Sandton, South Africa.

What is Chidimma Adetshina's parents' nationality?

Chidimma's father, Michael Adetshina, is of Nigerian nationality and Igbo descent, while her mother, Anabela Rungo, is a South African national with Mozambican roots. During an interview with Sowetan Live in July 2024, Adetshina explained her parents' nationalities. She said,

My dad is a proud Nigerian, and my mother was born and raised in SA but has roots in Mozambique. My mom’s family still lives in Soweto, and I visit them from time to time.

What happened to Chidimma?

Chidimma and her mother were stripped of their South African IDs and passports. This is after it was alleged that her mother had committed identity fraud when registering Chidimma's birth in South Africa. Chidimma Adetshina's mother was arrested and then placed under house arrest with strict curfew conditions.

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Is Chidimma Adetshina married?

The renowned model was previously married to a Nigerian named King Sefo, but divorced in early 2024. In the aforementioned interview with Sowetan Live in 2024, Adetshina elaborated:

I got divorced in February. We were not compatible because he had this ideology of what an African married woman is. I didn’t want to be in a position where I couldn’t go out, but I had to clean and cook… that was just not for me because, as a society, we are way past that phase.

Chidimma Adetshina also revealed that she is a mother of one child, and her parents have been very supportive. She said,

My parents have been very supportive and although my marriage robbed me from enjoying the beauty of pregnancy and being a wife – overall it brings me joy that I get to take new steps with my son.

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Where is Chidimma now?

Chidimma's location is not publicly known. However, recently, there was an outcry from South African netizens after she shared a video of herself in Cape Town, even after an alleged deportation.

Also, there was a Facebook post by Operation Dudula that suggested her presence in South Africa. It read,

We have confirmed that Chidimma Adetshina, a Nigerian national accused of using a stolen South African identity, is still living freely in Cape Town – despite claims from Home Affairs SA that she was deported.

Her recent return to South Africa follows a fallout with the Nigerian pageant organisers. Additionally, during an August 26, 2024, interview with Cool FM Nigeria, Adetshina revealed that she is not returning to South Africa. She said,

It’s been amazing. I’m not even looking forward to going back to South Africa. I just want to explore more. I want to stay longer and see what happens next.

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It’s been a long journey. It’s been so hard, I won’t lie. Sometimes, I would cry myself to sleep and wonder, ‘Why me?’ and wish it would end.

Trivia

• Chidimma is a talented athlete majoring in netball.
• Her national costume at Miss Universe 2024 gained widespread acclaim for showcasing rich Nigerian cultural heritage.
• Adetshina is the current Miss Universe from Africa.
• After the Miss Universe competition, she announced plans to retire from pageants to focus on her education and broaden her career into modelling and acting.

Summary

Chidimma Adetshina shines brilliantly as a bold beauty queen breaking boundaries. From pageant controversies to international acclaim, her inspiring journey combines resilience, culture, and ambition in unforgettable ways.

READ MORE: Natasha Joubert

Briefly.co.za published an article about Natasha Joubert, a South African model, fashion designer, and beauty pageant winner. She was crowned the second runner-up in the 2020 Miss South Africa contest.

The beauty queen started her pageantry career in 2016. She competed in the 2016 Miss Globe South Africa competition. She won the title and placed among the top five at Miss Globe 2016.

Proofreading by Kelly Lippke, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.

Source: Briefly News