Chidimma Adetshina Withdraws from Miss SA Pageant Amid Controversy

Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina has withdrawn from the pageant just days before the finale, following revelations about her mother’s fraudulent citizenship claim. The controversy surrounding her eligibility has sparked national debate. The Miss South Africa pageant, one of the country’s most prestigious events, has been overshadowed by controversy following the sudden withdrawal of finalist Chidimma Adetshina. Just two days before the highly anticipated finale, Adetshina announced her decision to step down, citing concerns for her family’s safety and well-being.

The decision follows a shocking revelation from the Department of Home Affairs, which disclosed that Adetshina’s mother had committed identity fraud to gain South African citizenship. The scandal came to light after the Miss South Africa Organization requested a verification of Adetshina’s citizenship amid growing public concern about her eligibility for the pageant.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, addressing the issue, highlighted the need for significant reforms within the department to prevent such fraudulent activities. He pointed to this case as an example of the critical need for digital modernization in the application and verification processes, similar to the reforms undertaken at the South African Revenue Service in the late 2000s.

The controversy surrounding Adetshina’s participation in the pageant had been building for weeks. Public opinion became increasingly divided after it was revealed that Adetshina had displayed the flags of Nigeria and Mozambique in her Miss SA bio, omitting the South African flag. Her public support for Nigeria, her father’s country of birth, and Mozambique, her mother’s birth country, further fueled the debate. Although she later replaced the Mozambican flag with the South African flag after public outcry, the damage had already been done.

Adding to the tension, a video showing a Nigerian-themed celebration of Adetshina’s advancement in the pageant circulated on social media, further stoking demands for a thorough investigation into her citizenship status. The mounting pressure led the pageant organizers to request a formal investigation by the Department of Home Affairs.

The subsequent investigation uncovered irregularities in the identity documents of Adetshina’s mother, which called into question the legitimacy of her South African citizenship and, by extension, her eligibility to compete in a national pageant. Faced with these revelations, Adetshina made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition.

In a heartfelt statement posted on her social media platforms, Adetshina expressed her gratitude for the support she received throughout her Miss South Africa 2024 journey. “Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey,” she wrote. “However, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and I. With the support of the Miss South Africa Organization, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.”

As the Miss SA pageant prepares to crown its new queen on Saturday at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, the controversy surrounding Adetshina’s withdrawal remains a significant talking point. Her decision to step down has not only sparked a national conversation about identity and citizenship but has also highlighted the need for transparency and fairness in such prestigious competitions.