Nigerians were thrilled this week with the news that Chidimma Adetshina, who recently withdrew from the Miss South Africa beauty pageant, has accepted an invitation to participate in the upcoming Miss Universe Nigeria competition, organized by Silverbird Group.
The decision to bring Adetshina on board has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many praising the move as a gesture of national unity and support.
Guy Murray-Bruce, the National Director and President of Silverbird Group, shared insights into the decision to invite Adetshina to the prestigious pageant. “The fact that Chidimma Adetshina is a Nigerian makes her qualified to be part of the delegates of the beauty contest,” Murray-Bruce explained. “She was victimized just because of her roots despite being born in South Africa. We cannot throw away anyone from Nigeria. We are not those kinds of people. Inviting her to be part of us is all about unity. Wherever a Nigerian is, we are always welcome home.”
Although the auditions for Miss Universe Nigeria had already concluded before Adetshina’s involvement, Murray-Bruce highlighted that her participation in the Miss South Africa auditions played a role in their decision. “We also had a few auditions with her, and we are excited to welcome her home,” he added.
The inclusion of Adetshina comes amid ongoing challenges in the beauty pageant industry in Nigeria. Murray-Bruce acknowledged the difficulties but expressed confidence in overcoming them. “There have always been challenges from day one when we started beauty contests in Nigeria. There are hard economic times presently, and many companies are folding up. Yes, things are not great in the country. We have a devalued currency, and sponsorship levels are at an all-time low, but we will have to persevere. We have to weather the storm. For every storm, there is a calm, and I am sure we will achieve calm with every hard work we put in,” he concluded.
