What is Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina’s nationality? All you need to know about Miss Universe 2024 1st runner up
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, a beauty pageant contender, became the 1st runner-up for Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico, where she represented Nigeria. As the top-ranked African contestant in 2024, she was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
Previously, she also competed in the Miss South Africa pageant, however, due to her dual citizenship of South Africa and Nigeria, her eligibility was questioned. Adetshina, who lives in Cape Town, was born in Johannesburg's township of Soweto.
She shares a dual nationality of both Nigeria and South Africa as her father is Nigerian and her mother is South African. She stated in a July 22 interview with Sowetan Live that growing up in a multicultural household provided her with a comprehensive understanding of the various cultures in the diaspora.
Furthermore, as per the Independent's August 2 report, regarding her eligibility controversy, Adetshina said:
“I’m still finding my feet as to how do I go about [it]. Not taking away from the fact that I am South African, but also understanding that I am still proudly Nigerian and I am proudly South African and just being that symbol of peace and unity.”
2024 Miss Universe first runner-up's nationality became a point of controversy
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, whose father is of Igbo descent, and mother is of Mozambique descent, was raised in Cape Town and eventually participated in the Miss Universe South Africa contest. However, when the Department of Home Affairs conducted an investigation into her mother's citizenship, she withdrew from the contest, citing fears for her safety and wellbeing.
As per the Department of Home Affairs' August 7 report, alleged evidence of fraud and identity theft linked to her mother's 2001 South African citizenship was seemingly discovered during the investigation. According to the same report, the continuing legal issue allegedly prevented her from participating in the contest.
Nevertheless, she was publicly backed by the Economic Freedom Fighters, a far-left political party in South Africa that promoted inclusivity and called for an end to alleged xenophobia in the country. Adetshina was later deemed to have met all the qualifications to compete in the Miss South Africa contest.
However, her South African identity documents were canceled by the South African Department of Home Affairs in October 2024. Meanwhile, she competed for the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 which took place at the Eko Hotels and Suites on Victoria Island in Lagos. Adetshina, who represented Taraba State, won the contest on August 31, 2024.
In November 2024, she went on to represent Nigeria at Miss Universe in Mexico and became the first runner-up. Initially talking about the controversy related to her nationality, Adetshina said to Sowetan Live on July 22:
“At first I ignored it, but as I progressed in the competition, the criticism started growing. I thought to myself, I am representing a country, but I don’t feel the love from the people I’m representing. I even asked myself, is it worth it?”
The Miss Universe runner-up continued:
“To be honest, I just feel that all of this is Black-on-Black hate as I’m not the only one in this competition who has a surname that’s not South African.”
She further added that after meeting in Johannesburg in the late 1990s, her parents decided to go to Pimville, the home of her maternal grandmother, before relocating to Cape Town, where she now lives. She further stated:
“My dad is a proud Nigerian and my mother was born and raised in SA but has roots from Mozambique. My mom’s family still lives in Soweto and I visit them from time to time.”
On the other hand, as per the same Independent's report, Adetshina also said that she was finding it difficult to accept how her family history had become a topic of national discussion. Nevertheless, she refused to deny her Nigerian origin and stated that she aspires to be a symbol of unity.