Ufa Dania, a contestant within the just-concluded Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, has denied claims that South Africans supported her to undermine Chidimma Adetshina.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Dania, who made historical past as the primary plus-size within the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant and represented Kwara State, witnessed a vote surge as netizens in South Africa voted en masse for her and rallied assist for her on X and Fb.
Ms Adetshina, who had beforehand been embroiled in controversy surrounding her participation in Miss South Africa, ultimately took house the Miss Universe Nigeria crown. Regardless of Ms Dania getting the very best on-line votes and qualifying for the highest 10 finalists, she didn’t make it to the highest 5.
Within the last public voting outcomes on 31 August, Miss Kwara led with 51,538 votes (28.93%). Miss Taraba (Ms Adetshina) positioned second with 48,103 votes (26.92%), and Edo State secured third place with 18,068 votes (10.1%).
In an interview with Channels Tv on Thursday, Ms Dania defined why she was beloved in South Africa.
Earlier within the contest, the style fanatic confronted vital challenges. On-line trolls questioned her proper to compete attributable to her measurement. Nonetheless, this led to a heartwarming assist rally from South Africans who, after witnessing the trolling and criticisms, rallied behind her, appreciating her braveness and willpower.
The 23-year-old mannequin stated, “When all this was occurring, the camp was so rigorous that I barely had time to make use of my cellphone. Initially, I didn’t know what was happening in South Africa. However then, I started noticing a couple of notifications and messages coming by way of. Individuals have stated “spite,” however I don’t assume it was out of spite. Earlier than coming to camp, I began a sequence on my Instagram known as “Highway to Miss Universe Nigeria,” the place I showcased my character. I consider that’s the place the charisma got here from. Individuals realised you could be a queen and nonetheless have a vibrant character.
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Ironic assist
Nonetheless, some critics have advised that South Africans’ assist for Ms Dania was a technique in opposition to Nigerians’ assist of the embattled finalist, Ms Adetshina, given the lingering stress between each international locations. Ms Dania, nevertheless, believes that the assist she acquired stemmed from relatability quite than spite.
This ironic assist by South Africans boosted visibility and votes for the plus-sized magnificence queen. Many South Africans said that their assist on social media, rallying behind the 25-year-old contestant, is a response to the adversarial remedy she acquired.
She stated: “I’m not solely certain how my web page reached South Africans, however I believe the constructive reception was that many noticed themselves in me, particularly the curvaceous and dark-skinned South African girls. That was the message I used to be getting on my social media — girls saying, “Oh sure, my sister, I see myself in you. You’re a real African lady.”
“I really feel they related with me on a deeper stage, which is why they voted for me. I don’t assume it was to spite Chidimma as a result of, ultimately, she nonetheless received. They merely noticed one thing in me that others didn’t and felt compelled to assist me.”
Regardless of her loss within the extremely contested pageant, Ms Dania, an Abuja-based content material creator and stylist who holds the title of Miss AUN from her time on the American College of Nigeria, Yola, stated she desires to make use of her platform to problem standard magnificence requirements.
Rising above criticism
Regardless of the backlash she confronted on-line, the American College of Nigeria graduate has remained resilient. Talking additional, the plus-sized mannequin acknowledged that she had anxiousness earlier than making use of for the competitors however determined to take the problem head-on.
She said, “Earlier than I utilized for the pageant, truthfully, I used to be having loads of anxiousness and simply concern due to the backlash that I may in all probability get. Identical to folks’s bias as a result of they all the time really feel like magnificence solely is available in one kind. And for somebody to return out and say, ‘Oh yeah, I’m operating for this,’ it scared me. However then I’m somebody who tries to do the daring.
“I don’t cease myself. If I need to do one thing, I am going out and do it. I made a decision to go over my concern, and I imply, I utilized, and I obtained in. That alone boosted my curiosity within the camp (Miss Universe Nigeria) actions. On the camp, I confirmed up and off. I made certain even when I’m not a traditional particular person, I need to stand out no matter something. I really feel I got here out as a unique particular person than I used to be on the entry stage. It has boosted my confidence much more than it was already. And I simply really feel completely satisfied for no matter comes after this now.”
In a light-hearted second through the interview, Dania joked about visiting South Africa, given the assist she acquired. “Inform South Africa to ship me cash, and I’ll be there instantly. I’m prepared. My passport is all the time with me,” she stated humorously.
The 23-year-old filmmaker known as for unity amongst Africans, urging South Africans and Nigerians to put aside their variations.
“We’re nonetheless one, and as Africa as an entire, it could be to our detriment to combat one another. We should be one to be sturdy after which combat in opposition to the world.”
Plus-size magnificence
Reflecting on her expertise within the Miss Universe Nigeria camp, Ms Dania described it as bodily and mentally difficult.
The Edo-born mannequin talked about that her fellow contestants had been welcoming through the competitors. Many stated her video impressed them to affix, which created a constructive and supportive setting for her to face agency.
The 23-year-old content material creator additionally in contrast it to the Nationwide Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp, noting the rigorous schedule. She stated, “It was rather a lot. To me, it was a lot worse than the NYSC camp. You get up at 5 a.m., and also you don’t sleep till midnight the following day,” she revealed. “Carrying excessive heels for lengthy hours was significantly robust for me. The heels had been my greatest points and the toughest a part of the pageant.”
Regardless of these difficulties, Dania inspired different plus-size girls to not doubt themselves and to embrace their potentials. “By no means doubt your self or look down on your self,” she stated. “You might be sufficient; you may have every little thing you must succeed.”
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