How the search for Miss South Africa turned ugly
One contestant in this year's beauty pageant has faced backlash over her heritage.
Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, has been facing online abuse since becoming a finalist in Miss South Africa 2024. Chidimma is South African and grew up in Cape Town to a Nigerian father and South African mother with Mozambican roots. Some people think she shouldnβt compete because of this - even though she is eligible.
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Africa journalist Danai Nesta Kupemba talks us through the details, and what this says about xenophobia and βafrophobiaβ more generally in South Africa.
This isnβt the first time there have been issues over the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. Melissa Nayimuli - whose father is Ugandan - competed last year and also faced online abuse. She joins us to share her experience.
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Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler
Editor: Verity Wilde
This podcast was recorded on Wednesday lunchtime in the UK. On Wednesday evening, the South African government released a statement saying there was an ongoing investigation into fraud and identify theft involving Chidimma Adetshinaβs mother, in order to become a South African citizen. On Thursday, Ms Adetshina announced she was withdrawing from the contest βfor the safety and well-beingβ of herself and her family. She did not refer to the investigation.
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