Miss Universe 2024 first runner-up, Chidimma Adetshina, has announced her decision to step away from the world of beauty pageants, citing deeply personal reasons and the toll the experience has taken on her.
Speaking candidly during a recent interview with Silverbird TV, Adetshina expressed her resolve to focus on her personal growth and education as she prepares to relocate from South Africa back to her home country, Nigeria.
“Finishing in the top two at the Miss Universe competition is still something I find hard to believe,” Adetshina admitted. “Honestly, I am done. Pageantry was a truly traumatic experience for me. People don’t understand the emotional rollercoaster I went through. There were moments when I almost gave up during the contest. I’m truly done with this chapter of my life.”
Adetshina achieved international recognition after representing Nigeria at the prestigious Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, where she finished as the first runner-up to Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig.
Her performance earned her the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
“It was a deeply personal decision for me to leave pageantry behind,” she explained. “I feel like I gave it my all. I made myself proud, and I made Nigeria proud. I don’t think there’s anything more I could accomplish in this field. The journey was a mixture of pride and hardship, but it’s time for me to move forward.”
Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition due to controversies surrounding her nationality. She went on to win the Miss Nigeria title and later represented the country at Miss Universe.
“I want to focus on myself, redefine who I am, and pursue my education,” she shared. “This decision is permanent. I’ve made peace with it, and I’m excited about what lies ahead. Pageantry is something I will always hold close to my heart, but it’s also something I’ve chosen to leave behind.”
