Beauty Queen to Seek Therapy Over Xenophobic Abuse

Chidimma Adetshina, a beauty queen who faced xenophobic abuse in South Africa, has revealed that she will seek therapy to cope with the emotional toll of the ordeal. The 23-year-old, who was a finalist in the Miss South Africa beauty contest, became the subject of public scrutiny and a government investigation after it was revealed that, despite being a South African citizen, her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots. Ms. Adetshina withdrew from the competition last month, shortly after the South African Department of Home Affairs announced that her mother might have committed "identity theft" to obtain South African nationality. This announcement led to a wave of criticism and xenophobic attacks against her. After stepping down from the Miss South Africa contest, Ms. Adetshina was invited to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which she went on to win. However, she admitted in an emotional interview with BBC Pidgin that she had been suppressing her emotions throughout the entire process. "It's just not a nice feeling," she said with tears in her eyes, adding that she had been avoiding her feelings, which have now started to overwhelm her.

Ms. Adetshina acknowledged that the situation had a significant impact on her mental health, prompting her to seek therapy. "I feel like I have been suppressing my emotions because what has happened... it wasn't a minor thing, it was actually really major," she said, reflecting on the difficult journey she has faced. Despite the ongoing investigation into her nationality, which she described as a "legal matter," Ms. Adetshina expressed pride in her accomplishments and identity. She shared how becoming Miss Universe Nigeria was a "very powerful moment" for her, despite the challenges she faced. "Even though it was a rough path for you, you really stepped up," she said, describing the self-affirmation she has given herself. "I think I really give myself that title of a strong black African woman." While many Nigerians celebrated her victory, some questioned the fairness of her participation in the Miss Universe Nigeria competition. Ms. Adetshina only joined the contest in its final stages, whereas other contestants had been involved for a longer period. Addressing these concerns, she stated, "I do get where people are coming from, but at the end of the day I also had my own journey, I had my fair share of going through the process."

Ms. Adetshina remains proud of her dual heritage, stating, "I still see myself proudly South African... I still see myself proudly Nigerian." She has extended her stay in Nigeria, the country of her father's birth, and plans to explore it further before heading to Mexico in November to represent Nigeria in the international Miss Universe competition. There, she will compete against beauty queens from around the world, including Mia le Roux, who won this year's Miss South Africa contest. Meanwhile, the South African government's investigation into Ms. Adetshina's nationality continues. The initial report from the Home Affairs Department acknowledged that while her mother might have committed identity theft, Ms. Adetshina herself could not have been involved as she was an infant at the time. Reflecting on her turbulent experience, Ms. Adetshina shared an inspiring message: "Set those goals for yourself. It might seem too scary but set them and always do everything in your power to make sure you achieve them."