Former Miss SA contestant, now Miss Universe Nigeria contestant, Chidimma Adetshina. Picture: Instagram
Former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina has dumped Mzansi, with the beauty queen telling a Nigerian radio station “it’s safe to say I am not going back” to a country she called home for 23 years.
Adetshina was forced to withdraw from the Miss SA pageant after Home Affairs found prima facie evidence that her mother may have committed identity fraud during her birth.
The Home Affairs investigation is still ongoing, with officials recently telling Parliament that it appeared Adetshina’s mother allegedly stole the identity of a Tshwane woman. Three officials have been implicated.
Speaking recently to Cool FM in Nigeria, Adetshina spoke about her journey in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant and how she handled the negative controversies that were surrounding her while she was competing for the Miss SA 2024 title.
“I think for me it has been a long journey. It has been so hard I won’t lie.
“There were times I would literally cry myself to sleep, like why me? I wanted it to end,” said the 23-year-old mother of one.
Adetshina mentioned that the support from her fans and family has been fueling her to keep going.
The Miss Universe Nigeria hopeful says that she is enjoying being in her father’s land and she is not coming back to South Africa anytime soon.
“Is Lagos a place where you will be like, you know what I am relocating from SA to come stay?” asked the Tacha, the host.
“I think it’s safe to say I am not going back again. It is amazing, it has been amazing. I am not even looking forward to going back. I just want to explore more, I want to stay longer and see what happens next,” said Adetshina.
Adetshina, who entered the Miss SA pageant, found herself in deep trouble as many South Africans did not want her competing in the pageant due to questions about her identity.
From trending on social media every week and petitions being created for her to be removed from the Miss SA pageant.
Matters escalated very quickly as netizens involved the law and prima facie evidence was found against Adetshina’s mother that she is involved in identity theft and fraud.
However, regardless of how South Africans treated her, in the interview she still vouched for South Africa and said that it is the place to be.
“South Africa is amazing. The beach is my favourite place at… There are just beautiful places to explore in Cape Town.”
“Well I am from Cape Town so Cape Town is my go to place. Joburg is also home for me. South Africa is the place to be,” she said.
Adetshina also shared her future plans which are to enter Big Brother Nigeria and create a podcast which will be about motivating people.
IOL