Miss South Africa Withdraws Due to Identity Row
The Miss South Africa beauty contestant at the center of a nationality row, Chidimma Adetshina, has withdrawn from the competition. She cited concerns for her and her family’s safety and well-being.
Adetshina’s withdrawal came after a preliminary investigation by the home affairs department found that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to become a South African national. The 23-year-old law student claimed she was born in Soweto, grew up in Cape Town, and has a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.
The controversy surrounding Adetshina’s eligibility sparked a social media storm, with some South Africans questioning her true nationality. In response, the Miss South Africa pageant organizers requested a formal investigation by the home affairs department.
The department’s investigation concluded that while the mother’s identity might have been fraudulently obtained, Adetshina herself was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud and therefore cannot be held accountable. Further criminal charges and legal consultations are underway.
Adetshina did not directly address the investigation’s findings in her Instagram post announcing her withdrawal, but expressed gratitude for the support she received and wished the remaining contestants well.