Melissa Nayimuli, the newly crowned Miss Universe South Africa, has become the target of extensive xenophobic abuse online following her selection to represent the nation at the upcoming Miss Universe pageant in Thailand. The 29-year-old beauty queen and filmmaker, who was born to a Xhosa mother and a Ugandan father, has often spoken about her personal struggles and her overarching quest to end xenophobia across the African continent, experiences that have resurfaced significantly in the wake of her recent appointment.

Her selection by Africa Beauty International to represent South Africa at the global pageant next month is noteworthy, as it marks the first time since 1997 that a separate entity from the Miss South Africa pageant will send a representative. While many South Africans extended congratulations to Nayimuli for her achievement, a segment of online users subjected her to severe trolling, with comments specifically related to her ancestry. Many of these remarks were tinged with xenophobia, questioning her South African identity simply because her father is Ugandan.

Nayimuli's experience with xenophobia is not new. During her participation in the Miss South Africa competition in 2020, where she notably made it to the Top 5, she openly shared her background, stating: “I was born into a multicultural home with a Xhosa mother and a Ugandan father.” She vividly described the duality of her experience: on one hand, receiving full acceptance and love as a South African, and on the other, encountering what it felt like “to be treated like a foreigner” with just the mere mention of her surname. These challenging sentiments were echoed in 2023, when she was again trolled for her “non-South African” surname and even unfairly compared to former finalist Chidimma Adetshina, who faced unrelated accusations of identity fraud.

Reflecting on her childhood, Nayimuli recounted to Nounouche magazine the profound impact these experiences had on her. She confessed to actively trying to “find a Xhosa name so that I could blend in” and deliberately speaking Xhosa in certain social situations to avoid being “attacked.” This internal conflict led her to feel like both “a victim of something, but also the perpetrator, because I denounced one heritage of who I am to find protection within the society I lived and grew up in.” She also candidly added that she saw the pain her actions caused her father.

Despite the renewed wave of online attacks, Melissa Nayimuli’s supporters have firmly rallied behind her, many describing the backlash as “a reflection of deep-seated xenophobia” within parts of South African society. Her proponents have praised her for championing diversity and inclusion, particularly on the global stage. Nayimuli has expressed her unwavering hope and resolve to tackle xenophobia by fully embracing her own heritage. As the Miss Universe pageant draws nearer, she has vowed to remain steadfastly focused on her powerful message of unity and acceptance, intending to utilize her international platform to challenge prejudice and promote a more inclusive vision of South African identity.