“Just because my dad Is Nigerian”: Chidimma hits back at hate

Miss SA finalist Chidimma Adetshina responds to suggestions that she should compete in Miss Nigeria following social media backlash about her ethnicity.

The model came under fire after it was revealed that her parents had roots in other African countries.

Chidimma, however, is a South African citizen as she was born and raised in Johannesburg.

CHIDIMMA REACTS TO MISS SA CRITICS

Since revealing that her father is Nigerian and her mother is a South African with Mozambican roots, Chidimma Adetshina has been a trending topic on social media.

The model and LLB student has been the victim of xenophobic comments from angry pageant fans who believe she should not win or represent Miss SA.

When one Instagram follower asked her to enter Miss Nigeria instead, Chidimma clapped back: “How? If I was born in SA and lived here my whole life. Just because my dad is Nigerian doesn’t mean I’m a citizen of Nigeria”.

Chidimma – who speaks Zulu, Xhosa, and English – added in another comment: “If it’s meant for me, God will do it for me If not, it’s also not the end but the beginning of a great start.

Speaking to The Sowetan, Chidimma Adetshina admitted that she was hurt and disappointed by fellow South Africans’ comments.

She said: “You try so hard to represent your country and wear it with so much pride. But all these people are not in support of you. I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t know what to say or not to say because this is such a sensitive topic. I don’t want to end up saying something and then offend people”.

Of her critics, she added: “To be honest, I just feel that all of this is black-on-black hate. I’m not the only one in this competition who has a surname that’s not South African. I just feel like the attention is on me because of my skin colour, which I think is a disadvantage. It’s also been something I had to overcome growing up.” 

HOW DO YOU BECOME A SOUTH AFRICAN CITIZEN?

into an amendment to the South African Citizenship states that Act, citizenship can be acquired by birth, descent, or naturalisation.

By birth means any individual born in the country, provided their parents are permanent residents. Descent is interpreted as those who have a parent with SA citizenship or are adopted by an SA citizen.

You can also apply to be a citizen by naturalisation if you have lived at least five years in the country, if you have married a South African, or if you are a minor under 21 years with a permanent residence.

Coincidentally, this also applied to Miss SA 2001 winner Vanessa Carreira (now Coutrollis), who was born to Portuguese-Angolan parents. Carreira was born in SA.