Chidimma Adetshina, the pageant hopeful who was forced to withdraw from Miss South Africa due to a nationality row, has accepted an invitation to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria.
With a radiant smile on her face, the 23-year-old stated in a video uploaded to her Instagram account, “I’m looking forward to competing in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant.”
Ms. Adetshina entered the Miss South Africa pageant this year, but she withdrew after receiving hateful comments about her ethnicity.
People questioned her eligibility despite the fact that she is a citizen of South Africa because her mother is from Mozambique and her father is from Nigeria.The Home Affairs department investigated her at the behest of the Miss South Africa organisers and said Ms Adetshina’s mother may have committed “identity fraud” to get South African nationality.
After this, Ms Adetshina made the “difficult decision” to leave the competition for her family’s safety and well-being last Thursday.
Following that, Miss Universe Nigeria extended an invitation and asked Ms Adetshina to compete as they said her “journey in the world of pageantry is far from over”.
It added that Ms Adetshina would be able to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage”.The Home Affairs department investigated her at the behest of the Miss South Africa organisers and said Ms Adetshina’s mother may have committed “identity fraud” to get South African nationality.
After this, Ms Adetshina made the “difficult decision” to leave the competition for her family’s safety and well-being last Thursday.
Following that, Miss Universe Nigeria extended an invitation and asked Ms Adetshina to compete as they said her “journey in the world of pageantry is far from over”.
It added that Ms Adetshina would be able to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage”.It is unclear if Ms Adetshina has Nigerian nationality.
The winner of Miss Universe Nigeria will represent the country at the prestigious Miss Universe competition.
South Africa’s Home Affairs department is still conducting further investigations with the aim of pressing criminal charges, while also obtaining legal advice “on the implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status”.
The Miss South Africa competition took place last Saturday. Mia le Roux won the pageant becoming the first deaf woman in history to clinch the crown.