Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma Adetshina, is currently at risk of losing her South African citizenship and travel documents due to a heated nationality controversy.
The South African Department of Home Affairs started looking into Adetshina’s citizenship after she entered the Miss South Africa pageant, sparking criticism over her Mozambican and Nigerian background. Allegations soon arose that Adetshina’s mother may have committed “identity theft” to secure South African citizenship, leading Adetshina to withdraw from the pageant in August.
Following her withdrawal, Adetshina chose to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria, sparking further xenophobic backlash online. Speaking to the BBC, she said she would “need therapy to recover” from the hateful comments she faced.
This Tuesday, South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs told a parliamentary committee that both Adetshina and her mother failed to meet a deadline to validate their citizenship claims, which will lead to the loss of their documents. The case has been passed on to the Hawks, a South African crime investigation unit, which has classified it as potential “fraud,” pending further action from prosecutors.
Despite the backlash, Adetshina remains proudly connected to both her Nigerian and South African roots. In a recent interview, she expressed being “proudly South African” and “proudly Nigerian.” Born in Soweto, she is now in Mexico, set to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe pageant on November 16, competing with other international contestants, including Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux.
This case has brought wider attention to the complex issues of nationality, identity, and xenophobia in South Africa.