By Rita Okoye
Former Miss ECOWAS and first runner-up in the 2002 Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria pageant, Dr. May Ikeora, has expressed disappointment over the discrimination, which Chidimma Adetshina, a finalist, faced in Miss South Africa pageant, concluded recently. In an interview with The Entertainer, the academic researcher and author also addressed misconceptions about beauty queens and discussed how pageantry shaped her life and personality.
What’s your take on the xenophobia displayed towards Chidimma Adetshina during the Miss South Africa pageant?
The incident involving Chidimma Adetshina, a Miss South Africa pageant contestant, who was hit by xenophobia, is deeply troubling and highlights the ongoing challenges of racism, xenophobia, and discrimination that persist in our continent. This unfortunate event calls for greater awareness, education, and advocacy to combat such harmful attitudes and behaviours.
From the perspective of race and xenophobia, it is essential to recognize that Africa is a continent of immense diversity. Hence, acts of xenophobia not only go against the spirit of African unity but also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and divisions that have no place in our interconnected world.
What do you think should be done to curb this menace?
The case of Chidimma is a broader problem of the Nigeria/South Africa relationship that needs to be addressed, especially by the leaders of both nations. The hate I read online amongst people is unbelievable and dangerous. Whilst no state’s sovereignty should be undermined, as humans, Africans, and global citizens, we must rise above the limitations of borders, race, and prejudice to embrace our shared humanity. We must strive to build a more inclusive and compassionate society where every individual is valued and respected regardless of their background or identity.
The eventual winner of the pageant, Mia le Roux, has also faced lots of criticism online because of her condition, how would you react to that?
The controversy surrounding the Miss South Africa pageant, where the winner is a white South African, should not detract from the significant milestone of the winner being the first disabled (deaf) woman to win. Her achievement certainly breaks barriers that should not be undermined.
As an ex-beauty queen, have you ever experienced racism in another country, and how did you deal with it?
I lived in the UK for over a decade, and I have experienced institutional subtle racism, but I never allowed it to define me; instead, it increased my activism on race and identity. Something I’m known for.
What’s your wish or prayer for Chidimma Adetshina?
For Chidinma, I hope this steers up her spirit and charts a path for advocacy for her. Few get the opportunity to be a vessel of change. In the face of this adversity, she has a chance to view this as an opportunity to be an agent of change rather than allow the cyberbully to let her down.
What parts can the government play to avoid such an ugly occurrence? Or continuous belittling of Nigerians by other countries..
To prevent incidents like this from happening again, our government needs to value its people, including those in the Diaspora. The embassies exist to represent us outside of Nigeria. But it’s not just the responsibility of Nigeria. Both nations must work together to repair their relationship by promoting cultural exchange, enhancing diplomatic relations, implementing educational campaigns against discrimination, enforcing legal protections, engaging communities in dialogue, encouraging responsible media reporting, and leveraging leadership to advocate for inclusivity and unity. The South African and Nigerian governments must take proactive steps to advocate mutual respect to drive for a stronger and more united Africa.
How has winning a beauty pageant shaped your life and personality?
Being part of a beauty pageant and winning an international pageant positively changed my life. I am who I am today because the pageant gave me a platform. I started with Miss Teen Nigeria, organised by Ms Robina, Then Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria (MBGN) by Silverbird, and then represented Nigeria in Cape Verde to be the first Nigerian to win Miss ECOWAS. I went on to be a goodwill ambassador to ECOWAS, which kicked off my career in the humanitarian sector with work experience from 28 countries, both in peace and conflict situations. Today, I have a PhD in hHumanitarian Law and have about 20 years of experience following a path I love so dearly. The rest is history. I worked as chief executive of the Miss Nigeria organization, turning it into an empowerment platform for women to gain what the pageant gave me.
What are some of the misconceptions about beauty queens that you’d like to address?
One common misconception about beauty queens is that they are solely defined by their physical appearance and lack substance beyond their beauty. My personal story and similar others challenge this stereotype by highlighting the transformative impact of participating in beauty pageants.
Some pageants (emphasis on some) can provide a platform for personal growth, empowerment, and opportunities to make a positive impact in various fields beyond the realm of beauty. The platform can be used by beauty queens to influence and pursue meaningful careers, engage in humanitarian work, and contribute to societal change like I did. Some amazing, intelligent and resourceful beauty queens have been a testament to the latter without naming names. What are your thoughts on body positivity and self-love?
However, this is not to say that some beauty queens do not fit these misconceptions. This is why I advocate for the vetting of beauty pageants. In my time, Beauty Queens were real stars, revered because their roles were not “common” unlike now when there are so many random pageants. This has diluted the pageant industry and doubly fueled this misconception.
Body positivity and self-love are essential components of mental and emotional well-being. It involves accepting and loving one’s body as it is, regardless of societal standards or expectations. Ironically, I never worried so much about my body until I got into the pageant; I’d say it’s a side of the pageant I did not like. I never dieted until I got into pageant. At my age now, I look at some of my pictures during my pageant days… I was so slim but I can categorically remember that I felt so fat when those pictures were taken. I think many can relate to looking back at old pictures and loving the body they had then and wishing they had it now because they now have a better appreciation. What the latter taught me was this: Love who you are now so that you don’t look back many years later and wish you had a better appreciation. The beginning of self-love is accepting you as you are and caring for what you have as you’d care for that expensive commodity. You are your most expensive commodity NOW!