Chidimma Adetshina, a Miss South Africa 2024 finalist, has allegedly been enduring severe criticism and discrimination for her Nigerian background. The 23-year-old model's father is an Igbo from Nigeria while her mother, a South African naturalised citizen, is from Mozambique. Born and raised in Soweto, South Africa, Adetshina has been facing intense xenophobic backlash on her social media due to her Nigerian surname since she qualified for the pageant's final round.
What Is The Issue Around Chidimma Adetshina?
Due to the criticism of her national identity, Chidimma Adetshina was forced to discuss details about her birthplace and upbringing to convince the trolls that she is South African. In an interview with Sowetan SMag, she said that her Nigerian heritage has led to many challenges in representing South Africa at the pageant.
“My dad is a proud Nigerian, and my mother was born and raised in South Africa but had Mozambique roots. My mom’s family still lives in Soweto, and I visit them occasionally.” Adetshina detailed. Despite being a South African citizen, she expressed that she often faces discrimination due to her bloodline.
Adetshina is facing what many critics call 'black-on-black' hate, which is reportedly a pervasive issue in South Africa. “At first I ignored it but as I progressed in the competition the criticism started growing. I thought to myself, I am representing a country but I don’t feel the love from the people I’m representing," she said.
The model even questioned if contesting after the backlash would be worth it. “I’m not the only one in this competition who has a surname that’s not South African. I feel the attention is on me because of my skin colour, which I think is a disadvantage. It’s also been something I had to overcome growing up."
The Miss South Africa pageant's official website states the eligibility criteria for contestants. It reads "Miss South Africa entrants must be South African citizens and in possession of a valid South African ID or passport. If an applicant holds dual citizenship, they must provide details of both on the entry form."
Who Is Chidimma Adetshina?
Adetshina is a 23-year-old model from Soweto, Gauteng. She is also a Bachelor of Law student at Varsity College. She is also passionate about sports and plays netball, balancing her modelling career, sports, and academics. Adetshina is also an advocate against gender-based violence and works for women's and children's rights.
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