Chidimma Adetshina has been crowned Miss Universe Nigeria - weeks after bowing out of the South African competition. Ms Adetshina cried tears of joy as she was crowned on Saturday. She was invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria after bowing out as a finalist in the Miss South Africa contest following criticism.

"This crown is not just for beauty; it's a call for unity," the 23-year-old law student said after receiving her crown. Adetshina faced backlash after entering the South African competition as some questioned her eligibility to compete -this despite being a South African citizen. Her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots. In interviews Adetshina said she was born in Soweto - the South African township next to Johannesburg - and grew up in Cape Town.

The row over her nationality sparked an investigation with the organisers of Miss South Africa. They asked the nation's home affairs department to look into her eligibility. After an initial probe, the department announced that Adetshina's mother may have committed "identity theft" to become a South African national. However, the statement added that Adetshina "could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time."

A day after the announcement, Adetshina dropped out of the contest, saying she took the decision for her and her family's safety and wellbeing. But after Adetshina's story went viral, the organisers of Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to participate in their contest. They said she would be able to "represent her father's native land on the international stage." After winning the contest on Saturday, Adetshina will represent Nigeria at November's Miss Universe competition.

At the Miss Universe contest in South Africa in November, Mia le Roux won after Adetshina dropped out. Le Roux became the first deaf woman in history to win the crown.