Newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria (MUN) Chidimma Adetshina has opened up about why South Africans did not support her dream of becoming Miss South Africa.
She said their attacks fueled her decision to quit the race to become Miss South Africa. She said she felt unaccepted by South Africans because of her Igbo name.
Ms Adetshina described the ordeal as “horrible and heartbreaking”. The 23-year-old stated that she was proud of her Nigerian heritage.
“It all started because of my name. People were not happy that my name is Chidimma and I am representing South Africa.
“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.
“I have lived there for 23 years and it’s heartbreaking to see that I wasn’t welcomed and accepted. There were certain things that happened behind the scenes that made me withdraw. It was heartbreaking that I had to withdraw close to the finale but a decision had to be made and it hit social media as well.
“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,” she said.
Chidimma Adetshina went viral on social media because of her Nigerian heritage while competing at the Miss South Africa pageantry.
She received a lot of backlash from South Africans on and off social media, which led to her quitting the competition.
Things took a different turn on August 14, when she participated in this year’s Miss Universe Nigeria pageant. The black beauty clinched the crown and will represent Nigeria in Mexico on the international stage.