Cape Town – Several local celebrities have voiced their support for Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old model and LLB student, to win the Miss SA crown despite a social media controversy regarding her ethnicity.
Born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother with Mozambican roots, Chidimma has faced xenophobic criticism about her ethnicity.
Critics on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), argue that Chidimma Adetshina’s Nigerian heritage disqualifies her from representing South Africa.
Case closed Chidimma Adetshina is not South African and should be removed from “Miss SA” !
Miss South Africa is not Miss Africa. She must go compete in Nigeria, I’m sure the Igbos & Yoruba there Nigeria will appreciate her story. She will unite her people there in Nigeria… https://t.co/aobjEZ3xdM pic.twitter.com/RPUOXpzq3U— Kwena Molekwa (@Miz_Ruraltarain) July 22, 2024
Her supporters, however, counter these criticisms, accusing detractors of xenophobia and highlighting the inclusive nature of South African citizenship.
Despite the backlash, Chidimma remains proud of her multicultural heritage and South African identity.
Several local celebrities and her family have also shown their support.
Celebrities like DJ Prince Kaybee, rapper Rouge, and former Johannesburg mayor Mpho Phalatse have publicly backed her.
“I want Chilima to win so bad,” Prince Kaybee wrote on X.
I want Chidimma to win so bad❤️ https://t.co/LRBUSJogXv
— K A B I L L I O N (@PrinceKaybee_SA) July 23, 2024
“I hope she makes it to the top. Such double standards,” Phalatse wrote in a post on X as well
I hope she makes it to the top. Such double standards!#MissSA https://t.co/1soMFKe3lq
— Mpho Phalatse (@mphophalatse1) July 21, 2024
Chidimma, who recently made it to the Top 13 of the competition, revealed in a recent interview with Sowetan Live, that she aims to promote unity through her personal story.
Raised in Soweto and currently residing in Cape Town, she aslo said: “You try so hard to represent your country and wear it with so much pride but all these people are not in support of you… I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t know what to say or not to say because this is such a sensitive topic. I don’t want to end up saying something and then offend people,” the report quoted Chidimma as saying.
“I’m at a point where I don’t know whether I should keep quiet or set the record straight because there’s a lot that’s being misconstrued. To me, I see this as an opportunity where I can educate people, I just need to see how I go about it.”
Chidimma, who also plays netball for the Western Province, said she is determined to use her platform to educate and unite people. She believes the criticism stems from black-on-black hate and misunderstandings about her background.
“To be honest, I just feel that all of this is black-on-black hate as I’m not the only one in this competition who has a surname that’s not South African. I just feel like the attention is on me because of my skin colour which I think is a disadvantage… it’s also been something I had to overcome growing up.”
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, a South African model, entered the Miss SA 2024 competition with her entry video.
She successfully advanced to the Top 14 contestants. pic.twitter.com/zdVt80pQV5
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) July 21, 2024
According to Premium Times, the Miss South Africa organisation has previously faced scrutiny over contestants’ heritage. In 2001, Vanessa Coutroulis, with Portuguese-Angolan parents, won the title.
In early 2024, Sherry Wang’s participation sparked debate due to her Chinese heritage, but she still secured a fan vote and a spot in the Top 25.
The South African Citizenship Act states that an individual qualifies for citizenship if they are born in South Africa to at least one South African parent or if they are adopted by an SA permanent residency permit holder or citizen.
Despite criticisms of Chidimma’s eligibility, the Miss South Africa organisation upholds strict citizenship and ethical conduct criteria. According to their website, entrants must be South African citizens with a valid ID or passport. Those with dual citizenship must provide details of both on the entry form.
“Miss South-Africa entrants “must be a South African citizen and in possession of a valid south African ID document or passport. If an applicant holds dual citizenship, she must provide full details of both”, the website states.
Having faced personal challenges, including a recent divorce and being a single mother, Chidimma is driven by her desire to fulfill her mother’s dream of becoming a model.
She views her participation in the Miss SA pageant as an opportunity to inspire and bring positive change.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
