Cape Town – Former Miss SA contestant Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina says she is enjoying her time in Nigeria after withdrawing from the South African pageant amid controversy about her citizenship.
Chidimma, who arrived in Nigeria to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, expressed joy about her stay and is not eager to return to South Africa.
“I think it’s safe to say I’m not going back.
“It’s been amazing. I’m not even looking forward to going back [to South Africa]. I just want to explore more. I want to stay longer and see what happens next,” she said during an interview with Cool FM Nigeria.
Chidimma faced harsh criticism during her Miss SA journey, with questions about her “South Africanness” leading to her withdrawal after an investigation into potential fraud involving her citizenship.
“It has been a long journey. It has been hard, I won’t lie.
“There were times when I’d literally cry myself to sleep and just wonder, ‘Why me?’ I wanted to end it. But then sometimes when difficult moments like this happen, you always need to look at the positive side of things as well. I had to change my mindset and see that maybe out of all of this, greatness is coming,” she said.
Despite the challenges, she said she remains focused on her dream of becoming Miss Universe, with support from her family and fans.
She spoke about the importance of mental health and happiness, saying that she aims to use her experience to advocate for inclusivity and acceptance through her platform.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
