Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has announced her decision to step back from beauty pageants following her remarkable performance as the first runner-up at the 2024 Miss Universe competition.

In an exclusive interview with BBC Pidgin on Tuesday after returning to Nigeria, the 23-year-old expressed pride in her achievement, which marked a historic milestone for both Nigeria and West Africa. Adetshina’s performance also earned her the title of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, solidifying her legacy on the global stage.

“I was so emotional when I was called into the top five,” she shared in Pidgin. “I had prepared myself mentally just to make it into the top 30. Surpassing my expectations has made me very proud of myself.”

The pageant, held on November 16 at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, saw Adetshina represent Nigeria among 125 contestants from around the world.

Despite her success, Adetshina plans to pause her pageantry career to focus on her education and explore opportunities in modeling and acting.

“I want to put pageants aside for now and concentrate on my studies. I also want to explore other opportunities to establish myself,” she said. “Runways, acting—I’m excited to see where my potential takes me.”

Her journey to the Miss Universe stage was not without its challenges. Earlier this year, she faced public scrutiny over her South African citizenship, which led to her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant. The controversy arose after the country’s Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into allegations of identity theft linked to her mother.

Following the withdrawal, Adetshina was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, a title she won decisively.

When asked about the citizenship controversy, she stated that she would address the issue after consulting her legal team. “People are very interested in the story. But as I haven’t been home or spoken to my lawyer yet, I cannot make any statements. Once I have all the facts, I will provide clarity on the matter,” she explained.

In her new role as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, Adetshina will work on development-focused initiatives in collaboration with the Miss Universe Organisation. While details of her projects remain under wraps, she revealed that her responsibilities will involve extensive travel across different countries.

Adetshina’s accomplishments have not only raised the bar for Nigeria in global pageantry but also inspired countless young women to pursue their dreams with determination and resilience.