Chidimma Adetshina Reflects on Miss South Africa Exit: “My Dream Was Shattered in Front of My Eyes”

• Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant in 2024 after her nationality was questioned
• On the anniversary of her withdrawal, Chidimma Adetshina shared an emotional Instagram story, opening up on how her Miss South Africa dreams were dashed
• In a subsequent Instagram story, Chidimma responded to criticism about her reflection, asking people to allow her space to process and celebrate both challenges and successes

Former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has opened up about her journey a year after leaving the pageant under a cloud of controversy.

Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from Miss South Africa after her nationality came under scrutiny. Her story didn’t end there, as she went on to enter and win the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant before being eventually crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania 2024.

Chidimma Adetshina reflects on her Miss SA exit

TshisaLive reported that Chidimma shared an emotional Instagram story featuring a video dated August 12, which was filmed just four days after she stepped down from the Miss South Africa pageant.

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Chidimma paired the video with a caption reflecting on the heartbreak of losing her dream to become Miss South Africa. The Instagram story was captioned:

“Last year, on this day, my dream was shattered in front of my eyes, but I'm grateful for this journey.”

Chidimma Adetshina responds to backlash after reflecting on Miss SA exit

In a subsequent Instagram story shared on Monday, 11 August 2025, Chidimma Adetshina responded to criticism for publicly reflecting on her Miss South Africa exit. She urged people to give her space to process her experience.

Chidimma Adetshina expressed that although her original plans failed to come to fruition, she is thankful because a new path opened. Part of her response reads:

“You guys should allow a person to reflect in peace. It's been a year, and I'm more grateful than ever because my plans didn’t work for me, but God's plans did. This month last year was filled with so much emotions, but looking back, it was all worth it. How am I being ungrateful when I'm LITERALLY living in answered prayers!!!”

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Chidimma Adetshina pleaded for people to stop twisting her story and let her appreciate how far she has come as she nears the completion of her reign as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.

“The end of one journey was the beginning of another and a step to my dream. Talking about it doesn't change anything. Please stop changing the narrative and allow me to celebrate every moment, the good and the bad, as I approach the end of my journey,” she wrote.

Chidimma Adetshina allegedly returns to SA

Meanwhile, Chidimma Adetshina allegedly returned to South Africa and is living her best life in Cape Town, as reported by Briefly News.

On Sunday, 10 August 2025, Operation Dudula took to Facebook to issue a scathing message about Chidimma's supposed return, sparking responses from netizens. Netizens questioned the reliability of the Department of Home Affairs when it comes to serious crimes like identity theft.

Source: Briefly News