Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina (23) has announced her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant amid accusations against her mother of fraud and identity theft which has lead to questions about her own citizenship, reports Cape {town} Etc.
Also read: Miss SA contestant Chidimma Adetshina faces xenophobic backlash
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Adetshina, a law student, shared the news on her Instagram, noting that her withdrawal from the national pageant is to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of her family.
‘Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey, however, 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 said in a statement.
Adetshina’s participation in the pageant had been mired in controversy since her selection as a finalist.
Her nationality was repeatedly questioned by online critics due to her Nigerian father and Mozambican mother.
This intensified after the Department of Home Affairs revealed that its investigation had found ‘prima facie reasons to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Chidimma Adetshina’s mother.’
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The Patriotic Alliance (PA) had also initiated urgent legal action to have Adetshina barred from the competition, with deputy leader Kenny Kunene stating, ‘[The] PA has instituted urgent legal action to interdict Chidimma Adetshina from participating in the Miss South Africa [contest]. We intend to have the matter heard on August 10,’ reports Times Live.
In her parting statement, Adetshina expressed her gratitude for the experience and well-wishes for her fellow Miss SA finalists.
‘I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all of the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all,’ she said.
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Picture: Chidimma Adetshina / Instagram
Original article for Women and Home
