By: Natasha Archary

Miss South Africa 2024 finalist, Chidimma Adetshina is still creating waves on social media, first over her nationality and now because she is breaking stereotypes as a divorced mother.
The 23-year old law student who was born in Soweto, made the Top 16 of the pageant earlier this month and has progressed to the Top 14 stage of the competition.
However, public outcry over her nationality has been growing as she gets closer to the title and crown, and Chidimma has opened up about her nationality, confirming that she was born and raised in South Africa.
Chidimma’s surname caused a frenzy of xenophobic hate on social media, leaving the beauty contestant to question whether representing a country that she didn’t feel support from was worth it.
The focus on Chidimma has been so intense that she chose to share her story with Sowetan SMag, and revealed that she was divorced earlier this year and has a 1-year old son.
“I got divorced in February. We were not compatible because he had this ideology of what an African married woman is. I didn’t want to be in a position where I can’t go out, but had to clean, cook, that was just not for me because as a society, we are way past that phase.
My parents have been very supportive and although my marriage robbed me from enjoying the beauty of pregnancy and being a wife, overall it brings me joy that I get to take new steps with my son.
I didn’t think I’d be a mom at my age as he was conceived out of wedlock but I’m glad to have him. At the beginning of the year, I was so depressed and worried about how life was going to turn out for me but getting this far in the competition made me believe there was more in store for me.”
Chidimma Adetshina on breaking stereotypes as a Miss SA finalist
In 2023, Miss SA amended entry rules to the pageant to allow married women, those with children and tattoos to enter.
Previously Miss SA contestants had to be under 20, unmarried, with no kids, tattoos and once crowned could not be in a relationship during her reign.
Those stereotypes were broken when Miss SA eased restrictions to allow all women, whether straight, trans, queer, large, small, short, tall or married and with or without children, to take part in the pageant.
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