Nigerians in South Africa are calling for a thorough investigation into the parental history of Chidimma Adetshina, who recently withdrew from the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant 2024 amid controversy.
The 23-year-old beauty queen, who stepped back from the competition on Thursday, faced backlash regarding her eligibility. The confusion arose from the pageant organization’s website indicating that Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, and was noted as a naturalized citizen.
This matter was further complicated by a recent statement from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, which suggested possible fraudulent activities related to Adetshina’s mother’s documentation. The statement hinted at “prima facie reasons to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed.”
In light of these developments, Adetshina announced her decision to withdraw from the pageant scheduled for Saturday at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, citing the safety and wellbeing of herself and her family.
Doris Ikeri-Solarin, President of the Nigerian Union in South Africa, labeled the situation “unfortunate,” emphasizing the discrimination faced by Adetshina. She urged that the investigation be completed before drawing conclusions about the beauty queen’s circumstances.
An immigration lawyer in Johannesburg, Austin Okeke, expressed that Adetshina should not be penalized for her parents’ alleged mistakes, underscoring that her mother’s purported illegality does not affect her citizenship status. Okeke noted the emotional toll the public backlash has taken on Adetshina, stating that the pageant should not have become a source of hostility towards her.
Regarding concerns for Adetshina’s safety in South Africa, Ikeri-Solarin expressed confidence that she is not at risk for xenophobic attacks, despite the intense social media attention her situation has garnered. She called for the nurturing of Adetshina’s talents to help pave the way for her future opportunities.
