Miss Universe Nigeria winner Chidimma Adetshina seeking therapy after xenophobic abuse

By Ezekiel David

Chidimma Adetshina, the beauty queen who recently endured xenophobic abuse in South Africa, has shared that she plans to seek therapy to address the emotional impact of the experience.

Adetshina, who gained notoriety for her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant, faced backlash despite being a South African citizen. The criticism stemmed from her Nigerian-Mozambican background, which made her the target of xenophobic abuse.

Last month, Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest just a day after the country’s Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation into allegations that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African citizenship.

Shortly thereafter, she was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, where she won the title.

In an interview with BBC Pidgin, Adetshina revealed that she had been “suppressing her emotions” throughout the difficult period.

“It’s just not a nice feeling,” said the 23-year-old. “I think I’ve been avoiding it, and only now it’s started to cloud me.” She admitted that the situation had taken a significant toll on her mental health. “I’ll be working on it and seeing a therapist,” she added, holding back tears. “I feel like I’ve been holding back my emotions… because what happened wasn’t minor; it was really significant.”

Adetshina, who previously stated she was born in Soweto, South Africa, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation into her nationality, describing it as a “legal matter.”

Read also: Miss Chidimma Adetshina crowned Miss universe Nigeria 2024

Despite the challenges, Adetshina described winning Miss Universe Nigeria as a “very powerful moment.”

“Even though the journey was rough, I really stepped up,” she reflected. “I think I can proudly call myself a strong black African woman.”

While many Nigerians have celebrated her win, some have criticised her entry into the competition, arguing that it was unfair to other contestants. Adetshina joined during the final stages, while other participants had been involved for a longer period.

“I understand where people are coming from,” Adetshina responded. “But at the end of the day, I had my own journey and went through my own process. There might have been a slight difference, but I feel like I also went through the journey they went through.”

“I still see myself proudly South African… I still see myself proudly Nigerian,” she affirmed.

Adetshina has since extended her stay in Nigeria, her father’s homeland. Having last visited as a young child 20 years ago, she now plans to reconnect with her roots before heading to Mexico in November, where she will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition.

As Nigeria’s representative, Adetshina will compete against beauty queens from around the world, including Mia le Roux, this year’s Miss South Africa winner.

Meanwhile, the investigation into Adetshina’s nationality continues. A preliminary report from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs noted that while her mother might have committed identity theft, Adetshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time.”

Asked what message she would like to share after her challenging experience, Adetshina said, “Set those goals for yourself. They might seem daunting, but set them and do everything in your power to achieve them.”

(BBC)