Chidimma Adetshina, a Nigerian-South African beauty queen, has expressed her decision to remain in Nigeria following her participation in the Miss Universe Nigeria Pageant. Despite spending her childhood in South Africa, Chidimma has no plans to return after facing racial attacks during her time in the Miss Universe South Africa contest.
In an interview with Cool FM on Tuesday, Chidimma shared her thoughts on the situation. “I think it’s safe to say I’m not going back. It’s been amazing here in Nigeria, and I’m not even considering going back to South Africa. I just want to explore more and see what happens next,” she said.
Chidimma’s decision comes after she withdrew from the Miss Universe South Africa contest due to the racial hostility she experienced and an investigation by South Africa’s Home Office into her mother’s citizenship status. These events made her reassess her future in the country.
Reflecting on her journey, Chidimma revealed that she had dreamed of becoming Miss Universe since 2017. She expressed her gratitude to the organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria for providing her with the opportunity to pursue this goal.
However, the challenges she faced, including the xenophobic attacks, took an emotional toll on her. “It’s been a long and difficult journey. There were times when I would cry myself to sleep, wondering, ‘Why me?’. But I’ve learned to shift my perspective and see the potential for greatness emerging from these challenges,” she shared during an interview on the Bold Friday Show.