Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, who was named the first runner-up in the 73rd Miss Universe competition, has expressed her views on the importance of respect over popularity. During the final round of the competition, held at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City early Sunday morning, Adetshina was asked by one of the judges about her thoughts on respect and being liked. In response, she emphasized the significance of respect in our society.

She explained, “I feel like being respected is more important than being liked. We live in a society where we often don’t feel respected because of who we are, and I feel like when you respect yourself, you respect others around you and respect is really important.” This powerful statement resonated with the audience, as she highlighted the value of self-respect and mutual respect in relationships and society at large.

Although Chidimma did not take home the crown, which was awarded to Miss Denmark, Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, her remarkable performance, poise, and grace throughout the competition captured the admiration of both the judges and the audience. Her words about respect further underscored her depth and maturity, making her a standout contestant in the prestigious event.