Former Miss South Africa hopeful, Chidimma Adetshina, has accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant. This opportunity comes after the 23-year-old was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition due to a preliminary investigation by Home Affairs, which raised concerns about her citizenship.
The investigation suggested that Adetshina’s mother may have committed identity fraud 23 years ago, prompting Adetshina’s withdrawal from the pageant, which was ultimately won by Mia le Roux. Her exit from Miss SA sparked online backlash, with many questioning her representation of South Africa due to her Nigerian and Mozambican heritage.
Following the controversy, Miss Universe Nigeria extended an invitation to Adetshina, offering her the chance to represent her father’s homeland on an international stage. In a public statement, Miss Universe Nigeria encouraged Adetshina to participate in their prestigious beauty pageant, and she has since accepted the offer.
In the statement they said: “This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage”.
Adetshina confirmed her decision through a video on Instagram, expressing her excitement about competing in Miss Universe Nigeria 2024. She thanked the organizers, the Silverbird Group, for the opportunity and looked forward to representing Nigeria in the competition.
She said:
“I have received an invitation from the Silverbird Group who are the organisers of the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, and I say this with great excitement because I have decided to accept the invitation”
“I have decided to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 beauty pageant”
“Thank you so much for this opportunity, and I look forward to participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant, Miss Universe Nigeria.”
Adetshina’s withdrawal from Miss SA was influenced by concerns for her safety and that of her family, following intense online scrutiny and petitions demanding her removal from the competition.
Despite the challenges she faced, she remains optimistic about her future in pageantry and is eager to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, representing her father’s native country on a global stage.
