Chidimma Adetshina, the radiant Miss Universe 2024 runner-up, has made a surprising announcement: she’s bidding farewell to pageantry to prioritize her education and personal growth.
The Nigerian-born queen, who once graced the stage as a Miss SA finalist, revealed her decision following the glitzy finale of this year’s competition. While Victoria Kjær Theilvig of Denmark made history by securing Denmark’s first-ever Miss Universe crown on 17 November in Mexico City, Chidimma’s announcement has sparked just as much conversation.
“I’m putting pageant to bed,” Chidimma shared candidly during an interview with BBC Pidgin. “I’m going to focus more on my education and establishing who Chidimma is. More into runways. So many things I would like to touch on and see where my potential can go.”
The beauty queen also emphasized the importance of prioritizing her mental health. “I’m glad it’s all done so I can focus on myself and my mental health. I think that’s important for me,” she said.
While Chidimma’s journey to the Miss Universe stage was dazzling on the surface, she opened up about the challenges she faced behind the scenes.
“This journey has been so hard, and I don’t think a lot of people understood what I went through,” she admitted. “Most times, I try to open up about it, but I try not to say much to offend people. So I tried to cover it up.”
Despite the hardships, she remains immensely proud of her achievement and grateful for the overwhelming support she received. “Getting to that stage, I was so proud, knowing I had such a tremendous amount of support, not only from Nigeria but from Africa,” she said.
“It was an overwhelming experience. Never once did I think I would receive so much support, and it was refreshing to feel so loved and accepted,” she added.
As she steps away from pageantry, Chidimma is setting her sights on new horizons. From exploring the world of fashion runways to personal development, she’s ready to discover what lies beyond the crown.
Her decision has left fans inspired, proving that life after pageantry can be just as exciting and fulfilling.
Chidimma’s journey hasn’t been without its controversies. Rumours were in the air about her connection to Soweto, Gauteng, where she was believed to have lived. However, questions arose about the legitimacy of this claim amidst an identity theft controversy.
Main Image: Punch NewsPapers
