Chidimma Adetshina, a Miss South Africa contestant whose Nigerian heritage sparked significant controversy and led to a government investigation, has withdrawn from the beauty pageant. Adetshina, 23, announced her decision on Instagram on Thursday, just two days before the pageant’s final.
Adetshina’s withdrawal comes in the wake of accusations from South Africa’s Home Affairs ministry against her mother, alleging fraud and identity theft. “After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I,” Adetshina, a law student, wrote.
Since being named a finalist in July, Adetshina has faced a wave of xenophobic attacks on social media, with many—including government officials—questioning her eligibility due to her Nigerian descent. Adetshina has previously explained in interviews that she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican origin.
The controversy prompted the pageant organizers to request an investigation into Adetshina’s citizenship. On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber announced that the investigation had found “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud by assuming the identity of a South African woman. The ministry is currently seeking legal counsel on how this may affect Adetshina’s citizenship, as she was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud.
South Africa grants citizenship to anyone born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or a permanent resident. However, Adetshina’s involvement in the pageant has fueled anti-foreigner sentiment in a country that has previously experienced violent, and sometimes deadly, attacks on immigrants.
The controversy surrounding her participation drew widespread attention, with politicians, celebrities, and the public weighing in. While many defended her right to compete, others argued that she should be disqualified.
In her announcement, Adetshina expressed gratitude to those who supported her throughout her Miss South Africa journey. “I am really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown,” she wrote.
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