South African Beauty Queen, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina has been invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria by the organiser after pulling out from miss South Africa Pageantry.
Adetshina on Thursday, announced her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa Pageantry despite being a Top 11 Finalist, after the Home Affairs ministry accused her mother of 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, 23, wrote on Instagram.
Adetshina, a law student, has been the subject of vicious, xenophobic attacks on social media since she was announced as a finalist in July, with many — including cabinet ministers — questioning her credentials because of her Nigerian descent.
Adetshina has previously told local media she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.
The ruckus led to an investigation into her citizenship following a request from the pageant’s organisers.
On Wednesday, home affairs minister Leon Schreiber said the investigation uncovered “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother might have committed fraud and stolen the identity of a South African woman.
The ministry said it was obtaining legal advice on the implications of this on the citizenship of Adetshina, who was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud.
Following this, the Organiser of Miss Universe Nigeria invited Adetshina to participate in the 2024 pageant.
The statement read in part, “As a Nigerian by heritage, we would like to formally invite you to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 pageant. This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage, and we believe you would be an outstanding contender.
“We encourage you to consider this opportunity and take part in a competition that celebrates the strength, intelligence, and diversity of Nigerian women,” the statement added.
AFP // AFRICA FACTS ZONE
