Tyla, the South African singer, has reacted to the controversy surrounding the nationality of Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old model of Nigerian heritage who participated in this year’s Miss South Africa pageant. Chidimma was recently embroiled in a controversy over her eligibility to participate in the country’s beauty pageant.
The beauty queen was born in Soweto, South Africa, and is believed to be of Nigerian (father) and Mozambican (mother) heritage.
The controversy surrounding her nationality gained traction on social media platforms last month after she qualified for the top 16. Some users, predominantly from South Africa, called for her disqualification.
The South African Ministry of Home Affairs subsequently launched an investigation to determine Chidimma’s nationality.
On Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for South Africa alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Chidimma’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
Following the investigation, the model withdrew from the Miss South Africa pageant, citing the “safety of my family and me” as her reason.
In a post on her social media page on Saturday, the ‘Water’ singer said that although she will “always stand with South Africa,” she felt that her countrymen’s treatment of Adetshina was “wrong.”
The Grammy winner emphasized that she does not “stand for bullying.” “I will always stand with South Africa. I just feel that regardless of the opinions, she was bullied, and that’s what I don’t stand for,” she wrote.
In another post, the 22-year-old expressed disappointment over what happened to Chidimma and encouraged the model.
“Disappointed that this happened to her, but I wish you all the best, girl. Kill it!!!!,” she added.
However, her comments sparked criticism from some South Africans, who accused Tyla of “misrepresenting her country.” Barely a day after withdrawing from the South African competition, Miss Universe Nigeria invited Chidimma to participate in its 2024 pageant.
