Fans have rallied around a former MissSouth Africacontestant after she pulled out of the beauty competition following a xenophobic row over her heritage.
Chidimma Adetshina, 23,who is of mixed parentage through her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother, was one of 10 finalists in the competition but last week said she'd taken the 'difficult decision' to leave the contest ahead of its final.
Although Chidimma - a law student - was born in South Africa, vicious rumours have since circulated that she should not have been eligible to participate in the competition, claiming she's Nigerian and not South African.
Since then the Miss South Africa competition has been tainted by a ferocious xenophobia row, one exacerbated by the news that Sasolburg, Free State-born, Mia le Roux has been crowned the pageant's first ever deaf winner.
Sasolburg, Free State-born, Mia le Roux (pictured in front) has been crowned Miss South Africa's first ever deaf winner
Fans of stunning model, Chidimma Adetshina (pictured), 23, have taken to Instagram in a heartwarming show of support barely hours after the beauty pageant crowned its winner - its first ever first deaf contestant
Perhaps reacting to the relentless controversy, today the model shared the following message on her page: 'In the midst of it all there was still love. This is my story…
'I was here... Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina'.
Alongside the caption, Chidimma shared a collage of clips that included her strutting down what appeared to be a hotel hallway in a glittering pink strapless dress.
The stunner teamed the mini frock with a pair of silver strappy heels, while she sported light make-up and wore her black locks in an elegant straightened style.
In the clips, she can be seen posing with young beauty queens dressed in floor-length gowns, tiaras and sashes.
She also seemingly met up with friends, family and fans who embraced her with warm hugs and beaming smiles.
The reel was set to the tune of Beyoncé's uplifting ballad 'I Was Here', a song jam packed with lyrics about making an impact on the world and reflecting on your past.
The Miss South Africa competition has been tainted by a ferocious xenophobia row, of which Chidimma has been at the centre (Pictured: Chidimma is embraced by family and friends)
Last week, Chidimma was forced to withdraw from Miss South Africa following a row over her heritage
The stunning model was born and raised in South Africa. Her father is Nigerian while her mother is of Mozambican descent
For fans of the model, the words couldn't ring truer, as they quickly flocked to her comments to remind her she is 'loved'.
'To the people hating on this girl remember before anything we are human. You are loved Chidinma', wrote one adoring fan.
South African DJ, DJ Sbu wrote: 'We are proud of you. Go on and conquer the world. You have a very bright future. God bless'.
Another added: 'Like really I am in tears honestly, your time is coming chichi, please don't forget we Nigerians love you so dearly'.
Someone else said: 'Your story is beautiful, and will be heard around the world! We love you Chichi'.
'Super proud of you!' said another.
'The real winner' chimed one.
On Saturday eveningpart-time marketing student and modelMia le Roux, 28, was crowned Miss South Africa 2024 at the 66th edition of the Miss South Africa pageant, in a ceremony held at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria.
Mia said she was a 'proud South African' and was thankful for her win as she knew 'what it feels to be excluded'
In an emotional speech, the beauty, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, told the audience she was a 'proud South African' and was thankful for her win as she knew 'what it feels to be excluded'.
In an excerpt published by The Independent, she said: 'I am a proud South African deaf woman and know what it feels to be excluded. But thanks to the Miss South Africa Organization, I have a foot in the world of the included and I want to build a bridge between those two worlds'.
She also shared plans to help others achieve their 'wildest' dreams: 'To help the financially excluded or being differently able to achieve their wildest dreams just like I am tonight' she added.
Mia, who currently works as a marketing manager, wears a cochlear implant to aid her hearing. She lives inRosebank in Cape Town.
She is now expected to prepare to represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2024, making her the first woman with a physical disability to appear on the Miss Universe stage.
Chidimma, a law student, had previously revealed how 'excited' she was to be one of the 10 finalists
She thanked her fans for their 'love and support' after revealing she's withdrawn from the contest
Former co-contestant Chidimma Adetshina shocked fans when she pulled out of the Miss South Africa content last week.
Following controversy surrounding her mixed heritage, the law student received a torrent of vile abuse on social media, while Miss South Africa and the government were urged to ban her from competing.
In a statement posted to Instagram on Thursday, Chidimma broke her silence on the issue to reveal she's been forced to withdraw from the competition over fears for her own safety and that of her family.
She said: 'I would like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I'm really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown.
'Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey, however, after much consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety of my family and I.
'With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.
The model received a torrent of vile abuse on social media, while Miss South Africa and the government were urged to ban her from competing
'I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all.'
Chidimma, who had said previously she was 'super excited' for the final, thanked her fans for the 'love and support' she's received.
In a statement, the organisers of Miss South Africa said: 'In light of recent events, 2024 Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition.
'We wish Chidimma all of the very best and success in all her endeavours.
'Miss South Africa celebrates South Africa’s rich and inclusive culture and diversity. We uphold the spirit of Ubuntu-Botho and are committed to contributing to the self-belief, self-confidence, and fulfilment of the aspirations of all girls and women in Africa and worldwide.
'The Miss South Africa Organisation would like to thank our sponsors, partners, fans and all stakeholders for their continued support and wish the 2024 Miss South Africa finalists, all of the best'.
The model posted a statement to her Instagram page revealing concerns over her safety and that of her family had led to the decision ahead of Saturday's final
Miss South Africa said previously that she is eligible to compete as she holds a valid ID and passport, while the nation grants citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995.
Chidimma said it was disappointing to see so much 'black-on-black hate' in the response to her achievements in the contest, and told local media: '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'.
Images circulating on social media of her alongside others dressed in traditional Nigerian attire only worsened the abuse.
Fuel was added to the fire after an investigation by the Home Affairs ministry uncovered 'prima facie indications' that Adetshina's mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman after she was born.
Home Affairs minister Leon Schreiber said: 'Reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in home affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina's mother.
'An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina's mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child'.
Fans have rallied behind Chidimma, telling the model they are 'proud' of her, while others have declared her the 'real winner'
South Africa today is known as the 'Rainbow Nation' but xenophobia still remains post-apartheid.
The abuse commonly targets those from Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Somalia, who are used as scapegoats for 'taking jobs away' and causing high levels of drugs and crime.
It has led to the rise of xenophobic movements and political parties, including the far-right Patriotic Alliance led by Gayton McKenzie, which won two per cent of the vote in May's elections.
McKenzie, who is also Minister of Culture, wrote last week on Twitter: 'We truly cannot have Nigerians competing in our Miss SA competition. I want to get all the facts before I comment, but it gives funny vibes already.
'Whenever you present yourself to represent South Africans, you are willingly opening yourself up to scrutiny.
'South Africans shouldn't be ashamed and accused simply because they are asking needed questions of the lady who wants to represent them as Miss South Africa'.
But Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, came to her defence during a podcast interview.
He said: 'We cannot punish people based on where their parents come from... Your citizenship is determined by where you were born, so if she was born here, she's South African.
'It doesn't matter. She's not her parents, she's herself. So why say she's from Nigeria or Mozambique? She was born here'.
Chidimma revealed in her entry video that her parents are not from South Africa, which initiated the debate of her eligibility to compete.
She was born and raised in Johannesburg and is now a law student at Varsity College, model and netball player.
According to her bio for Miss South Africa, she is passionate about advocating for change on violence against women and children.
