“Nationality Is Not Ethnicity”: Locals Weigh In on Fierce Miss South Africa Debate
- The debate rages on the timeline as more social media users voice their strong views around Miss South Africa 2024
- One of the latest cans of worms came courtesy of a viral X post, gaining traction since Sunday, 21 July, from @Hlulanani
- The rhetoric surrounds the participation of top 13 finalist Chidimma Onwe Adetshina in the prestigious national pageant
- Disability inclusion advocate and previous Miss SA entrant Laura Wagner-Meyer and Mr Heritage SA pageant director Luthando Siyeni shared their insights on the debacle with Briefly News
Source: Twitter
There's been lots of noise around the Miss South Africa (SA) 2024 pageant and the participation of, namely, top 13 finalist Chidimma Onwe Adetshina.
That furore continues days after Briefly News reported that a social media windstorm was trailing the South African-Nigerian model and netball player's participation in the prestigious national beauty contest.
In a viral X post that is still gaining traction since its posting on Sunday, 21 July, @Hlulanani opened a can of worms when he asked:
"If my parents are Sotho and Venda, and I [was] born in [the] Eastern Cape, does that make me Xhosa?"
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His response quoted an earlier post from @unclescrooch, who'd wrote:
"What’s your take on this? She’s born in SA, but both parents are not South African."
It illustrated how the 23-year-old from Cape Town's unveiling as one of the top 30 finalists by the Miss SA Organisation on Wednesday, 22 May, sparked this and other debates.
A voting process opened, inviting the public to vote for their favourite to make it to the top 25.
This ensured that in the two months since, Adetshina has broken the mould as a top 13 contestant, solidifying her place as one to watch in the competition.
But, as evident on the X trends list, her continued involvement has come under public scrutiny over her nationality.
Social media critics have argued that her Nigerian heritage disqualified her from representing SA.
The online discussion has raised questions about the eligibility criteria for national pageants and the celebration of diversity within South Africa.
Meanwhile, the participation of another contestant, Sherry W.ang, a South African model of Chinese descent, in her third Miss SA competition has been questioned.
Pageantry experts offer insights
Disability inclusion advocate and previous Miss SA entrant Laura Wagner-Meyer said in an exclusive Briefly News interview that Adetshina had earned her spot in the competition.
"Chidi shouldn't be scrutinised based on her parents' origins or the heritage of her name. She was born and raised in South Africa [however] represents a demographic within our nation that faces unjust discrimination.
"Xenophobia is harmful because we limit individuals to origins way beyond their control instead of [supporting] their potential. Chidi has worked as hard as her fellow contestants. Her growth is evident across the series."
She said the country's beauty was its diversity, making South Africa a melting pot of cultures.
"What makes us South African are things like our inner resilience, common lived experience, and true love for our beautiful country," she said.
Mr Heritage SA pageant director Luthando Siyeni emphasised in his interview with Briefly News that Adetshina's mother, being a South African, qualified her status as a local citizen.
He said it was unfair to deny her the opportunity to become a Miss SA because she had Nigerian blood running through her veins.
"It is within her birthright as a citizen of this country to indulge in all the economic and social benefits we have to offer," Siyeni told Briefly News.
"This is a call for us as Africans to end this black-on-black hate and Xenophobia. Trevor Noah's father is not a South African, but everyone in this country is proudly claiming him and his international success."
Locals voice strong views
Turning the attention to the tumult of the timeline, Briefly News scoured the fierce comments in response to @Hlulanani's post, which attracted 821,000 views, 6900 likes, and 1200 reposts within 28 hours.
Almost 450 responses rushed the comments in the time since.
@Boowa7 wrote:
"They will hate your simple example for no reason."
@AegonWaMarete offered:
"Nationality is not ethnicity."
@malvink10 reacted:
"We won't let this one slide. Bayasiny*la."
@RK_Mayekisa responded:
"According to them, ke sana, ungumtase."
Lerato Kganyago grateful as Miss SA 2024 judge
In related news, Briefly News reported that Lerato Kganyago celebrated her appointment as a Miss SA 2024 judge by sharing a poster and a short clip.
The Metro FM presenter reflected on her time as a beauty queen when she was crowned Miss Soweto years back.
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Source: Briefly News
