mma Adetshina, once a top contender for the Miss South Africa crown, has opened up about the emotional turmoil she faced during the competition. Reported by TshisaLIVE, now crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Adetshina reflects on the “heartbreaking” backlash that led her to withdraw from Miss SA, a decision driven by both personal pain and scrutiny over her citizenship status.
Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina’s journey to the Miss SA stage was met with intense criticism, primarily centered on her name and heritage. In an interview with Silverbird Television, she shared the distressing experience of having her South African identity questioned. “What I do know is that I was born in South Africa, and I am a South African, and I’m still proudly Nigerian as well,” she said.
During the interview, Adetshina broke down in tears as she recalled the painful experience. “It all started because of my name. People were not happy that my name is Chidimma and that I am representing South Africa. South Africans felt like I was not South African enough because of my name, and it was really sad to see,” she said, her voice trembling. “It was a very horrible experience, and I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. I have lived there for 23 years, and it’s heartbreaking to see that I wasn’t welcomed and accepted.”
Adetshina’s Miss SA journey was initially filled with hope and excitement. After not making it in 2022, she was thrilled to make it to the top 30 in the next year’s competition. “I was just this little girl who has always wanted to achieve this dream of becoming the next Miss Universe,” she said. But as she progressed to the top 16, the criticism on social media became overwhelming.