'I will work on and see a therapist': Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma says after Miss SA experience
Chidimma Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, has revealed plans to seek therapy following a challenging experience during her participation in Miss South Africa.
The 23-year-old, who was forced to withdraw from the South African pageant, faced intense backlash over her Nigerian heritage, which escalated into a government investigation.
The investigation centred on allegations that her mother, of Mozambican descent, committed "identity theft" to obtain South African citizenship.
Despite holding a South African passport, Adetshina had to exit the Miss South Africa competition, opening the door for her successful participation in Miss Universe Nigeria.
Representing Nigeria’s northeastern state of Taraba, she secured the crown on August 31.
Recounting the xenophobic abuse, Adetshina told the BBC, "It's just not a nice feeling, I think I've been avoiding it a lot and only now it's started to cloud me… It's something I will work on and see a therapist." She admitted to suppressing her emotions throughout the ordeal.
In August, as she prepared for the Nigerian beauty pageant, Adetshina spoke about the difficulties she endured, stating that the backlash was “not an easy experience” and left her crying herself to sleep.
Xenophobia in South Africa remains a pressing issue, with sporadic and sometimes deadly violence against foreign nationals, including refugees, asylum seekers, and both documented and undocumented migrants. Groups like Operation Dudula, originally founded to address crime and drug issues in Gauteng province, have shifted focus to targeting foreign nationals, calling for mass deportations and restricting immigrants' access to healthcare and other services, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Despite the challenges, the beauty queen affirmed her identity by saying she still sees herself as “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.”
Adetshina, a law student who last visited Nigeria 20 years ago as a young child, has decided to extend her stay in the country of her father's birth to reconnect with her roots. In November, she will represent Nigeria at the international Miss Universe competition in Mexico.
