Ufa Dania, a Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 competitor, has responded to reports that South Africans encouraged her to degrade rival contestant Chidimma Adetshina.
Dania, who represented Kwara as the competition’s first plus-size candidate, received a lot of love from South African fans during the pageant.
Despite the outpouring of support for Dania, Chidimma Adetshina, mired in a controversy over her eligibility to compete in this year’s Miss South Africa, eventually won the Miss Universe Nigeria title.
In an interview with Channels TV published on Thursday, Dania ascribed her South African supporters’ enthusiasm to her relatability and common qualities, disputing claims that it was a deliberate snub to Adetshina.
“Personally, I don’t believe South Africans supported me to spite Chidimma. Before the competition, I launched an Instagram series called ‘Road to Miss Universe Nigeria,’ where I shared my personality with my followers.
“I’m not sure how my content reached South Africans, but their response was overwhelming,” Dania explained.
She added that many South Africans, particularly women, resonated with her image.
“They connected with me because I reflect something familiar to them – especially the curvy, dark-skinned South African women. A lot of the messages I received on social media expressed that sentiment.”
Dania emphasized that the support was likely rooted in a sense of relatability.
“I think they saw someone they could relate to on a deeper level, which is why they voted for me. I don’t believe it had anything to do with Chidimma; they simply saw something in me that others may have overlooked.”
