CHIDIMMA Adetshina, a beauty queen who recently became the target of xenophobic abuse in South Africa, has revealed that the ordeal has left her seeking therapy. Adetshina, who was a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, faced criticism because, despite holding South African citizenship, her father is Nigerian, and her mother has Mozambican roots.
The 23-year-old law student withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest last month, just a day after South Africa’s Home Affairs Department announced an investigation into her mother’s alleged ‘identity theft’ to obtain South African citizenship.
Following her withdrawal, Adetshina was invited to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she ultimately won. However, in her first interview since her victory, Adetshina confessed to the BBC that she has been ‘suppressing her emotions’ throughout the experience.
‘It’s just not a nice feeling,’ Adetshina admitted tearfully, ‘I think I’ve been avoiding it a lot, and now it’s starting to overwhelm me. This wasn’t a minor thing—it was actually really major.’
Adetshina emphasised that while she cannot comment on the ongoing investigation into her nationality by the South African government, as it is a ‘legal matter,’ she remains proud of her dual heritage. ‘I still see myself proudly South African… I still see myself proudly Nigerian,’ she told the BBC.
Despite the challenges of recent weeks, Adetshina described her win in the Miss Universe Nigeria competition as a ‘very powerful moment’ and an affirmation of her resilience. She acknowledged that while some people felt her entry into the Nigerian competition was unfair to other contestants, she had her own unique journey and obstacles to overcome.
‘Even though it was a rough path for you, you really stepped up,’ she said, reflecting on her experiences and the message she has been telling herself. ‘I think I really give myself that title of a strong black African woman.’
Adetshina has extended her stay in Nigeria to reconnect with her father’s homeland, a place she last visited as a child 20 years ago. After getting to know more about Nigeria, she will travel to Mexico in November to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition.
Meanwhile, the South African government’s investigation into her nationality continues. In a preliminary report, the Home Affairs Department noted that while Adetshina’s mother might have committed identity theft, Adetshina herself could not have been involved as she was an infant at the time.
When asked about the message she would like to send to the world after her tumultuous experience, Adetshina said: ‘Set those goals for yourself. It might seem too scary, but set them and always do everything in your power to achieve them.’
