Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina image: The Citizen
(The Post News)– Former Miss South Africa contestant and beauty queen Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, who has previously been at the center of a nationality controversy, is facing the loss of her South African identity and traveling documents.
The Department of Home Affairs launched an official investigation into Adetshina’s nationality after she was named a finalist in the 2024 Miss South Africa beauty pageant, where she attracted widespread criticism and dissatisfaction from South Africans who questioned her right to compete. Questions about the recently crowned Miss Universe Nigeria’s nationality were sparked by the revelations of her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother, even though she says she was born and raised in Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa.
Following the commencement of the investigations, the department announced that the 23-year-old’s mother might have committed identity theft to obtain her South African citizenship. This prompted Adetshina to withdraw from the competition. Thus, the department of home affairs announced on Tuesday, October 29, that both Adetshina and her mother will have their South African identity and travel documents revoked after failing to justify the validity of the documents in question.
Despite the controversy surrounding her, Adetshina landed in Mexico on a Nigerian passport to partake in the Miss Universe pageant, which will be taking place on the 17th of November 2024. Following Adetshina’s arrival in Mexico, an organization by the name of Progressive Forces launched a petition that is aimed at stopping the young lady from taking part in the international pageant due to the alleged identity theft charges she and her mother could be facing. More than 500 people have since signed the petition within a day of its creation.
The organization stated in the petition that by urging that the Miss Universe Organization rethink and, if possible, cancel Miss Universe Nigeria’s entry, they represent everyone who believes in fairness. They stated that allowing Chidimma to participate could pose a threat to the organization’s integrity, noting that Miss Universe is a well-known brand for class, integrity, and fair competition.
According to the organization, the peagent provides an excellent platform for women from all walks of life to make a constructive contribution to society while also serving as the key to unlocking limitless opportunities. The organization said it would hate to see the pageant’s reputation tarnished as a result of a participant whose mother is accused of stealing the identity of an innocent citizen.
This is not the first time Adetshina is facing backlash. A similar petition was launched during her Miss South Africa participation, leading to her withdrawal. Adetshina was subsequently invited to take part in the Miss Universe Nigeria and won the crown. The petition has since grown and recorded over 1,000 signatures.
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