Chidimma Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant, has announced her intention to participate in the 2025 edition of Big Brother Naija (BBNaija), Nigeria’s most prominent reality television show.
Adetshina, born in 2001 in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, has a diverse heritage with her father of Igbo descent and her mother reportedly a Mozambican who became a naturalized citizen of South Africa.
Her participation in Miss South Africa stirred controversy, as her nationality became a hotly debated topic on social media.
Many South Africans expressed dissatisfaction and called for her disqualification, leading to an investigation by the South African Ministry of Home Affairs. Following the uproar, Adetshina withdrew from the pageant.
Despite the setback, Adetshina has remained resilient. On August 14, she accepted an invitation to participate in this year’s Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which began on August 23 and is set to conclude on August 31.
The winner of the pageant will represent Nigeria at the 73rd Miss Universe competition in Mexico on November 16.
In a recent interview with Cool FM, Adetshina revealed her plans to join BBNaija next year. “I want to enter Big Brother Naija next year. If I can stay away for seven weeks at Miss SA, trust me, I am sure I can do it,” she said.
She also reflected on the emotional challenges she faced during the Miss South Africa controversy, describing the journey as difficult and often tearful.
However, Adetshina emphasized her determination to maintain a positive outlook, believing that something good could emerge from her experience.
“For me, it has been a long journey. It’s been so hard, I won’t lie,” she admitted. “Sometimes, I would cry to sleep and be like, ‘Why me?’ and want it to end. But sometimes, when difficult moments happen, you must look at the positive side. So I had to change my mindset and see that greatness may come from all this.”
