Beauty queen to seek therapy for xenophobic abuse

 

A beauty queen who suffered xenophobic abuse in South Africa and became the subject of a government investigation has told the BBC she will seek therapy over the incident.

Chidimma Adetshina, a finalist in the Miss South Africa beauty pageant, has drawn criticism because, despite being a South African citizen, her father is Nigerian and her mother is of Mozambican origin.

She dropped out of the contest last month, the day after the Department of Home Affairs announced that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to become a South African citizen.

Ms Adetshina was later invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, which she won, but said she had been “repressing her emotions” the entire time.

“It’s not a nice feeling, I think I’ve been avoiding it a lot and it’s only now started to cloud my mind,” the 23-year-old told BBC Pidgin in her first round of interviews since winning the competition on Saturday.

“It’s something I’m going to work on and see a psychologist,” she added, tears streaming down her face, “because I feel like I’ve been bottled up in my emotions… because what happened… it wasn’t a small thing, it was a really big thing.”

Ms Adetshina, who previously said she was born in the South African township of Soweto, told BBC Pidgin she could not comment on the South African government’s ongoing investigation into her nationality as it was a “legal matter”.

Despite a difficult past few weeks, the law student said becoming Miss Universe Nigeria was a “very powerful moment.”

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“Despite the difficult path for you, you have really stepped up,” Ms. Adetshina said, describing a message that was repeating itself.

“I think I really call myself a strong black African woman.”

While many Nigerians were happy to see her triumph, some felt that the way she presented herself in the competition was unfair to the other contestants.

Ms. Adetshina competed only in the final stages of the competition, while the other contestants campaigned longer.

“I understand where people are coming from, but at the end of the day I’ve had my own journey, I’ve had my fair share of process,” Ms. Adetshina said.

“There may have been a small difference, but I feel like I’ve been through the same journey they’ve been through.”

“I still see myself as proudly South African… I still see myself as proudly Nigerian,” she told the BBC.

Nigeria’s new beauty queen has said she has extended her stay in her father’s home country.

Having visited Nigeria only 20 years ago as a child, she plans to “get to know” it better, then in November she will go to Mexico for the international Miss Universe pageant.

Ms Adetshina said she was overwhelmed by an “overwhelming feeling” when she was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria.

As Nigeria’s representative, she will compete against beauty queens from around the world, including Mia le Roux, winner of this year’s Miss South Africa pageant.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s investigation into Ms Adetshina’s nationality continues.

In its initial report, the Department of Home Affairs said that while her mother may have committed identity theft, Ms Adetshina “could not have participated in her mother’s alleged unlawful acts as she was an infant at the time”.

Asked what message she wanted to send to the world after her turbulent experience, Ms. Adetshina said: “Set goals.

“It may seem too scary, but set them and always do everything in your power to make sure you achieve them.” [BBC]

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