Newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Vannesa Adetshina, recently opened up about the painful experience she faced during her time in South Africa. This follows her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant amidst a storm of controversy.
Adetshina, who has lived in South Africa for 23 years, revealed that she felt rejected by South Africans due to her name, which led to widespread criticism of her participation in the pageant.
“South Africans felt like I was not South African enough because of my name, and it was really hard to see,” she shared during an emotional interview. “It was a very horrible experience, and I would not wish it on anybody because I have lived there for 23 years. It is heartbreaking to see that I was not welcomed and accepted.”
The controversy didn’t end there, as allegations of identity theft were also levelled against her mother by South Africa’s Home Affairs. However, Adetshina chose not to delve into that topic, stating, “There were some statements that came out from Home Affairs concerning my mom’s ID as well, and that is still a legal matter, so I won’t comment on it. What I do know is that I was born in South Africa, and I am still South African, and I am still proudly Nigerian.”
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The beauty queen’s ordeal has brought to light the challenges of identity and acceptance in a complex multicultural society, as she navigates the tension between her Nigerian roots and her South African upbringing.
