MEXICO CITY (ChatnewsTV) — Chidinma Onwe Adetshina, Nigeria’s representative at the 73rd Miss Universe Competition, secured the first runner-up position early Sunday at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The crown went to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjr Theilvig, after a closely contested final.
The pageant, widely praised as one of the most exciting in recent years, showcased the intelligence, talent, and elegance of women from across the globe.
In the final moments, Adetshina and Theilvig stood together on stage, with the announcement that crowned Victoria as the new Miss Universe, succeeding 2023 titleholder Sheynnis Palacios of Nicaragua.
“The final two! Nigeria and Denmark, two incredible women, one unforgettable moment,” the organizers posted on Instagram, capturing the anticipation of the evening’s final announcement.
Despite narrowly missing the crown, Adetshina’s performance earned her high praise from judges and won the hearts of many in the audience. Her journey to the Miss Universe stage has been marked by resilience and determination.
Adetshina, who was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father from Enugu State and a South African mother with Mozambican roots, previously withdrew from the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant following debates over her heritage. Critics in South Africa argued she was not sufficiently representative of the country, and allegations of identity theft involving her mother surfaced.
Undeterred, Adetshina went on to win the title of Miss Universe Nigeria, representing Taraba State, and earned her place on the global stage in Mexico.
Meanwhile, Mia le Roux, who ultimately won the Miss South Africa pageant, withdrew from the Miss Universe contest due to health concerns.
This achievement adds to Nigeria’s legacy in international pageantry. In December 1988, Current minister of state for Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu, who is also from Enugu state was then Miss Martini, was crowned Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria, reigning through most of 1989.
She went on to win the Miss Africa 1989 pageant in Gambia and represented Nigeria at both Miss World in Hong Kong and Miss Universe in Mexico. Mrs. Ojukwu made history when she became the first African to win the Miss Intercontinental title and was also awarded Miss Congeniality at Miss Charm International in Russia, where she was a semi-finalist.
Adetshina joins other Nigerian pageant icons in continuing the tradition of excellence on the international stage. In 2001, Agbani Darego made history as the first Black African to win the Miss World title, capturing the crown at just 18 years old.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
