Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, a beauty pageant hopeful who recently withdrew from Miss South Africa due to a nationality controversy, has now accepted an invitation to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria.
“I’m excited to join Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant,” the 23-year-old shared with a radiant smile in a video on her Instagram account.
Chidimma had competed in this year’s Miss South Africa but decided to step down after facing a wave of xenophobic backlash. Although she is a South African citizen, questions arose about her eligibility due to her father’s Nigerian heritage and her mother’s Mozambican roots.
The controversy escalated when the Department of Home Affairs launched an investigation at the request of the Miss South Africa organizers, suggesting that Chidimma’s mother might have committed “identity fraud” to obtain South African citizenship. Concerned for her family’s safety, Chidimma made the “difficult decision” to exit the competition last Thursday.
In a show of support, Miss Universe Nigeria extended an invitation, assuring Chidimma that her “journey in the world of pageantry is far from over.” The invitation also emphasized the opportunity for Chidimma to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage.”
It remains unclear whether Chidimma holds Nigerian citizenship. The winner of Miss Universe Nigeria will go on to represent the country at the prestigious Miss Universe competition.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Home Affairs department continues to investigate, with the possibility of pressing criminal charges and seeking legal advice on the potential impact of the alleged fraudulent activity on Chidimma’s citizenship status.
The Miss South Africa pageant concluded last Saturday, with Mia le Roux making history as the first deaf woman to win the crown. Should Chidimma win Miss Universe Nigeria, she will face off against Miss le Roux at Miss Universe in November.
