Chidimma Adetshina, who has left the Miss South Africa pageant beauty contest Last week, after being embroiled in a row over her nationality, she instead accepted an invitation to compete for the title of Miss Universe Nigeria.
Adetshina, 23, whose father is Nigerian and her mother of Mozambican descent is South African, withdrew from the South African competition after questions were raised about her participation and she became the target of xenophobic online attacks.
On August 8, she posted a message on Instagram saying that she “difficult decision” to leave the competition to protect the “safety and well-being of my family and myself.”
A day after Adetshina announced her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant, the organizers of Miss Universe Nigeria invited her to take part in their competition instead, saying it was “an opportunity to represent her father’s native country on an international stage” and adding that her “journey in the world of pageantry is far from over.”
In response to the invitation, Adetshina said in a video shared on Instagram on Thursday that she was “excited to embark on this journey” and described Miss Universe Nigeria as “Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant.”
Under government investigation
When Adetshina was selected for the Miss South Africa pageant last month, her Nigerian name prompted some South Africans to clarify her citizenship status, and she became the subject of xenophobic attacks on social media.
In a statement posted on the website of South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs on August 7, it said it had investigated Adetshina’s citizenship at the request of the pageant organizers and had concluded that “There may be fraud and identity fraud” by her mother to obtain South African citizenship.
However, it added that “Adetshina could not have participated in her mother’s alleged unlawful acts as she was an infant at the time of the activities in 2001.”
The department said it was working to ““to establish the full facts” of the matter and “was also in the process of obtaining legal advice on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activities for Adetshina’s citizenship status.”
CNN has reached out to Adetshina for comment.
Miss South Africa organizers acknowledged Adetshina’s withdrawal from the competition and wished her “all the best and success in all her endeavors.” They added in a proposition that the pageant “celebrates South Africa’s rich and inclusive culture and diversity.”
The nationality struggle has provoked mixed reactions in South Africa, where xenophobic and anti-immigrant attacks are common.
“If she (Adetshina) was born here, she is South African… she is not her parents,” populist opposition politician Julius Malema said in a recent interview. interview discourage xenophobia.
Adetshina’s withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant also drew sympathy from the Grammy-winning singer Tijlwho said in a message on X that she “disappointed” about the online harassment Adetshina faced.
Tijl said that while she “will always stand behind South Africa”, she believed that “regardless of opinions, she (Adetshina) was bullied and that is what I do not stand for.”
If she wins Miss Universe Nigeria, Adetshina will represent the West African country at the Miss Universe pageant to be held in Mexico later this year.
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