Chidimma Adetshina, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, has opened up about the reasons behind her decision to withdraw from this year’s Miss South Africa pageant, citing a lack of acceptance due to her Igbo heritage as the primary cause.
Adetshina, a model who was born in South Africa to Nigerian parents, faced significant backlash during her participation in the Miss South Africa contest.
The controversy centered around her nationality and name, which sparked a wave of criticism on social media, particularly from South African nationals who questioned her representation of their country.
In a recent interview with Silverbird TV, Adetshina described the experience as “horrible and heartbreaking,” revealing that her Igbo name, Chidimma, became a focal point of the hostility she encountered.
“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 all of her 23 years, expressed her deep disappointment at the situation.
She noted that the criticism she faced on social media was just the tip of the iceberg, as there were other challenges behind the scenes that ultimately led to her decision to withdraw from the competition.
“It was heartbreaking that I had to withdraw close to the finale, but a decision had to be made and it really hit social media as well,” she explained.
“But what I know is that I was born in South Africa and I am a South African. I am still proudly Nigerian as well.”
