Chidimma Adetshina, a contestant in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, recently shared the emotional struggles she faced on her way to achieving this milestone. One of the most difficult challenges was being forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant due to issues related to her citizenship.

Chidimma expressed how tough this experience was for her, revealing that she has avoided talking about it because of how deeply it affects her. “It has been a hectic one. I think I’ve been avoiding it because it’s so emotional for me. I just cried earlier because I think I need to get used to talking about it,” she said.

She went on to describe how this situation has had a lasting impact on her. Although she has tried to push the feelings aside, Chidimma admitted that she can no longer ignore them. “It’s not a nice feeling at all, and I think I’ve been avoiding it a lot, but it’s now starting to cloud and affect me, and I will have to deal with it and not suppress it,” she explained.

The journey was particularly painful for Chidimma because of the lack of acceptance she felt in South Africa, where she had lived for 23 years. She shared that some people questioned her identity as a South African simply because of her name, which added to her heartache. “South Africans felt I wasn’t South African enough because of my name. I lived there for 23 years. It’s heartbreaking to see I wasn’t welcome and accepted,” she shared.

Despite these setbacks, Chidimma remains strong and determined. She acknowledges that the experience was significant and challenging, but she is confident that she will eventually overcome it. “What happened wasn’t a minor thing; it was a really major thing, but I will be okay,” she concluded.

Chidimma’s story is a powerful reminder of the resilience required to pursue one’s dreams, even in the face of adversity. Her journey to Miss Universe Nigeria is not just about beauty and grace, but also about courage and perseverance.