South African Chidimma Adetshina Faces Online Abuse Over Miss South Africa Finalist Spot
Law student Chidimma Adetshina recently secured a spot as a finalist in the prestigious Miss South Africa competition, but her success was met with a wave of online abuse questioning her nationality. The 23-year-old, whose name hints at her Nigerian heritage, faced backlash from internet users who delved into her background to uncover her family’s roots in Nigeria and Mozambique.
Despite being born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, Adetshina was targeted with comments demanding her removal from the competition and questioning her eligibility to represent South Africa. The online hate she received made her reconsider her decision to compete, as she expressed feeling unsupported by the very people she aimed to represent.
The issue of xenophobia in South Africa, particularly towards other Africans, was highlighted by Adetshina as she described the situation as “black-on-black hate.” This sentiment was echoed by previous Miss South Africa contestant Melissa Nayimuli, who faced similar criticism due to her Ugandan heritage.
The hostility towards Adetshina and Nayimuli reflects a deeper issue rooted in South Africa’s history of racism and apartheid, which has perpetuated a sense of self-hate among black South Africans. The country’s struggle to overcome this mentality is evident in the discrimination faced by individuals with non-South African backgrounds.
Despite the backlash, there have been calls for unity and support for Adetshina, with some political leaders defending her right to compete in the pageant. As Adetshina prepares to take the stage for the final round of the competition, the spotlight remains on the issue of xenophobia and the importance of embracing diversity and African unity.
