Chidimma Adetshina, Nigeria’s Miss Universe Africa and Oceania 2024 and first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant, has announced she is stepping away from the pageant world. The 23-year-old beauty queen shared that she intends to focus on her studies and personal development, moving away from the competitive world of beauty contests.
In an interview with BBC News Pidgin, Adetshina explained her decision, stating that she plans to concentrate on her education and explore opportunities in runway modeling. “I’m putting pageant to bed,” she said. “I’m going to focus more on my education and establishing who Chidimma is.”
She also acknowledged the mental toll that pageantry has taken on her. “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 added.
Reflecting on her pageant journey, Adetshina described it as difficult and emotionally draining, revealing that many people may not have fully understood the challenges she faced. “It was an overwhelming experience,” she said, noting that the support from Nigeria and the African continent helped her overcome those challenges.
Adetshina made it clear that her decision is final. “This is permanent. I feel like I did my best, I made myself proud, I made Nigeria proud,” she said. “I don’t think there’s anything more I could do. It was a traumatic experience, and I don’t think I would like to revisit this again.”
Despite her decision to retire from pageantry, Adetshina’s performance at the Miss Universe competition remains significant. She initially didn’t expect to make it far, but after advancing to the top 12 and then the top five, she was elated to reach the top two. “When they told us to step forward, I had to stop myself from crying. It was such a proud moment,” she recalled.
Adetshina returned to Nigeria to a warm reception from her supporters. On Instagram, she expressed her gratitude, saying, “I came, I saw, and I shook the universe.” She thanked her fans and organizations like Silverbird Group and Chichi Nation for their continued support throughout her journey.
