In a stirring show of solidarity, acclaimed actress and DJ Pearl Thusi has spoken out in defense of Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, who has found herself at the heart of a heated debate about her eligibility to represent the nation.
Chidimma, who recently advanced to the Top 13 of the prestigious competition, has faced a torrent of criticism on social media. Detractors have questioned her South African identity and suitability as an ambassador for the country, citing her Nigerian heritage—though she was born and raised in South Africa, her father is Nigerian.
Pearl Thusi, known for her bold personality and outspoken nature, addressed these criticisms head-on in a viral video circulating on social media. Pearl Thusi emphasised that Chidimma’s South African birth and upbringing should unequivocally establish her as a South African, dismissing the relevance of her father’s nationality.
“She was born and raised in South Africa, therefore she is a South African. She can’t call Nigeria home, even though her parents may be Nigerian or wherever they may be from. That is beside the point,” Thusi stated passionately. She further criticised the double standards evident in the scrutiny Chidimma faces compared to others in similar situations.
“If she was a white girl and she was half French, half something else, you guys might have never even noticed, but because her name is what it is now it’s a big deal,” Thusi argued. “But you guys have people in our cricket teams, in our parliament, and different sectors of the South African ecosystem whose parents are not South African but they were born here, that you may know or may never know of, and this girl has to suffer because she is black, and she’s female and it is a pageant?”
As the Miss South Africa competition continues, Chidimma’s journey is now under even greater public scrutiny. Yet, with supporters like Pearl Thusi standing by her side, she continues to embody the resilience and determination that the title of Miss South Africa represents.
Pearl Thusi defends Miss SA pageant Chidimma Adetshina. pic.twitter.com/cuFt78X8S5
— MDN NEWS (@MDNnewss) July 30, 2024
