What in the World

How the search for Miss South Africa turned ugly


Listen Later

Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, has been facing online abuse since becoming a finalist in Miss South Africa 2024. Chidimma is South African and grew up in Cape Town to a Nigerian father and South African mother with Mozambican roots. Some people think she shouldn’t compete because of this - even though she is eligible.

BBC Africa journalist Danai Nesta Kupemba talks us through the details, and what this says about xenophobia and ‘afrophobia’ more generally in South Africa.

This isn’t the first time there have been issues over the Miss South Africa beauty pageant. Melissa Nayimuli - whose father is Ugandan - competed last year and also faced online abuse. She joins us to share her experience.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld

WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6
Presenter: Hannah Gelbart
Producers: Mora Morrison and Emily Horler
Editor: Verity Wilde

This podcast was recorded on Wednesday lunchtime in the UK. On Wednesday evening, the South African government released a statement saying there was an ongoing investigation into fraud and identify theft involving Chidimma Adetshina’s mother, in order to become a South African citizen. On Thursday, Ms Adetshina announced she was withdrawing from the contest “for the safety and well-being” of herself and her family. She did not refer to the investigation.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

What in the WorldBy BBC World Service

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

12 ratings


More shows like What in the World

View all
The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,843 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,760 Listeners

Science Weekly by The Guardian

Science Weekly

403 Listeners

Business Daily by BBC World Service

Business Daily

536 Listeners

Discovery by BBC World Service

Discovery

956 Listeners

World Business Report by BBC World Service

World Business Report

286 Listeners

Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

Unexpected Elements

356 Listeners

Business Matters by BBC World Service

Business Matters

48 Listeners

Tech Life by BBC World Service

Tech Life

57 Listeners

The Inquiry by BBC World Service

The Inquiry

756 Listeners

CrowdScience by BBC World Service

CrowdScience

477 Listeners

People Fixing the World by BBC World Service

People Fixing the World

245 Listeners

Learning English from the News by BBC Radio

Learning English from the News

260 Listeners

The Explanation by BBC World Service

The Explanation

27 Listeners

The Global Story by BBC World Service

The Global Story

170 Listeners