Miss Universe Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina will seek therapy following xenophobic abuse and a South African government investigation into her citizenship. After withdrawing from Miss South Africa, Adetshina, who faced controversy over her heritage, won the Miss Universe Nigeria title. She plans to compete in the Miss Universe international pageant in November.
Chidimma Adetshina, who recently won the title of Miss Universe Nigeria, has announced she will seek therapy following a challenging period marked by xenophobic attacks and a government probe into her citizenship. Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa finalist, faced backlash due to her diverse heritage—her father is Nigerian and her mother is from Mozambique. The situation intensified when South Africa's Home Affairs Department raised concerns about her mother potentially committing "identity theft" to obtain South African citizenship.
After withdrawing from the Miss South Africa pageant, Adetshina won the Miss Universe Nigeria crown. In her first interview since the win, she shared that she had been "suppressing her emotions" and found the ordeal deeply troubling. Despite the difficulties, she described her victory as powerful and emphasized her pride in her dual heritage. Adetshina plans to spend more time in Nigeria, exploring her roots, before heading to Mexico in November to compete in the international Miss Universe pageant.
Adetshina acknowledged some criticism over her late entry into the Miss Universe Nigeria competition but defended her journey, highlighting her personal challenges. The South African government’s investigation into her nationality is ongoing, with early reports indicating she was not involved in any alleged fraudulent activities. Adetshina's message to others is to set ambitious goals and strive to achieve them despite obstacles.
