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| Image: Ufadania/ Instagram |
South Africans have shifted their focus from supporting former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, who represents Taraba State in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, to rooting for a plus-size, dark-skinned woman reshaping beauty standards, Ufa Dania, representing Kwara State. Dania has been a leading contender in the pageant for public support, receiving more than 15,000 votes. However, a new wave of enthusiasm has emerged, with Dania in the top three with more than 9,000 votes.
Dania graduated as a first-class student from the American University of Nigeria with a degree in communications and multimedia design. She is a content creator, photographer, stylist, and filmmaker, and has founded an NGO called Minds and Heart Foundation, which focuses on girls' education, female empowerment, art and creativity development, and mental health advocacy.
An audacious lady who takes charge of her life and doesn't let anybody tell her she cannot, Dania is on a mission to redefine what it means to be a queen. She believes that beauty comes in a symphony, a kaleidoscope of shapes, shades, and stories. She was bullied from a young age and suffered from low self-esteem and confidence, but "like a phoenix, I have risen from the ashes."
While Dania may not fit the typical pageant girl physique, she is determined to push boundaries and challenge beauty norms. She believes that what makes a woman a true queen is not just her looks but rather that she pays heed to the cries and needs of the people in her community. When she is in the community helping people, nobody cares if you are fat, slim, or tall; what matters is helping people.
Dania's biggest achievement goes beyond the title; it's about impacting lives. The Miss Universe Nigeria crown would amplify her voice, efforts, and impact lives. She is here to champion what matters, empower others, make an impact, and create a ripple effect of positive change that goes beyond the pageant and into the communities. Crowns are temporary, but the impact we create lasts.
