Chidimma Adetshina, a beauty queen at the center of a nationality dispute, is set to lose her South African identity and travel documents. The Department of Home Affairs initiated an investigation after she became a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, facing scrutiny due to her mother’s Mozambican heritage and her father’s Nigerian roots.
Adetshina withdrew from the competition in August after allegations surfaced that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to obtain South African nationality. Following her withdrawal, she won the Miss Universe Nigeria title, which led to a wave of xenophobic backlash in South Africa, prompting her to seek therapy.
During a parliamentary session on Tuesday, officials announced that both Adetshina and her mother would have their documents revoked after failing to meet a deadline to justify their eligibility. The case has been classified as “fraud” and has been referred to the Hawks, a special police unit for serious crimes.
Despite the controversy, Adetshina, born in Soweto, continues to embrace her mixed heritage, identifying as “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.” She recently arrived in Mexico to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe competition, set for November 16, where she will compete alongside global contestants, including this year’s Miss South Africa winner, Mia le Roux.
