Chidimma Adetshina, the beauty queen entangled in a heated nationality debate, is set to lose her South African identity and travel documents, as announced by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs on Tuesday. The investigation into her eligibility began after she became a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, sparking public scrutiny over her South African nationality due to her Nigerian and Mozambican parentage.
In August, Ms. Adetshina, a law student, withdrew from the Miss South Africa contest when Home Affairs revealed her mother might have obtained her South African citizenship through "identity theft." Following her withdrawal, Adetshina was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, a title she later won.
Department of Home Affairs Director-General Tommy Makhode told a parliamentary committee that both Adetshina and her mother missed a deadline to defend their eligibility, leading to the decision to revoke their documents. The case has since been referred to the Hawks, a special police unit specializing in serious crimes, who concluded it as a "case of fraud." Prosecutors are now reviewing the findings.
Despite the controversy, Ms. Adetshina, who asserts she was born in Soweto, expressed her pride in both her South African and Nigerian heritage. She is now representing Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition in Mexico on November 16, competing alongside Mia le Roux, this year’s Miss South Africa.
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