Chidimma Adetshina reveals why South Africans rejected her

Chidimma Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, has opened up about her experience with the Miss South Africa pageant and why she withdrew.

In a recent interview with Silverbird TV, Adetshina revealed that South Africans did not support her candidacy due to her Igbo name.

“I felt unaccepted by South Africans because of my Igbo name,” Adetshina explained.

She described the experience as “horrible and heartbreaking,” noting that despite being born in South Africa, her Nigerian heritage led to rejection.

“It all started because of my name. People were not happy that my name is Chidimma and I am representing South Africa,” she said.

“South Africans felt like I wasn’t South African enough because of my name. It was really sad to see and it was a very horrible experience that I wouldn’t wish on anybody.”

Adetshina, who has lived in South Africa for 23 years, expressed pride in both her Nigerian and South African identities.

“I am proudly Nigerian. But what I know is that I was born in South Africa and I am a South African.

“It was heartbreaking to withdraw close to the finale, but a decision had to be made,” she added.

Chidimma ‘s pageant journey:

Chidimma Adetshina, born to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, was raised in South Africa.

Her multicultural background profoundly shaped her identity, instilling in her a strong sense of pride in both her Nigerian and South African roots.

Chidimma’s entry into the Miss South Africa pageant was motivated by a desire to represent the diverse cultural tapestry of the country.

Her participation was initially met with enthusiasm, as she quickly became a standout contestant due to her poise, intelligence, and beauty.

As the competition progressed, she faced xenophobic backlash, with critics questioning her South African identity because of her Igbo name.

This controversy overshadowed her pageant achievements and eventually prompted her to withdraw from the competition.

Despite setbacks, her dedication to her Nigerian roots led her to win the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.

Xenophobia in South Africa:

Xenophobia in South Africa, particularly against African immigrants, has a long and troubling history.

This phenomenon is deeply rooted in the country’s socio-economic challenges, such as high unemployment rates, poverty, and inequality.

These issues have persisted despite the end of apartheid.

The first significant wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa occurred in 2008.

During this period, attacks on foreign nationals, mainly from other African countries, led to over 60 deaths and thousands displaced.

Violence stemmed from beliefs that immigrants from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Somalia, and Mozambique were taking jobs and resources from South Africans.

These sentiments have persisted over the years, with additional outbreaks of violence in 2015 and 2019.

Nigerians have often been targeted due to stereotypes portraying them as involved in illegal activities, such as drug trafficking and fraud.

These stereotypes, though not representative of the Nigerian community as a whole, have fueled xenophobic attitudes.

Sensational media reports highlighting negative stories about Nigerians worsen public fears and prejudices.

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