Miss SA Organisation Breaks Silence on Chidimma Adetshina Citizenship Controversy
The Miss South Africa Organization has finally released a statement regarding the controversy surrounding finalist Chidimma Adetshina’s citizenship.
After Chidimma Adetshina was announced as one of the Miss South Africa finalists, questions were raised about her citizenship status. Chidimma had stated that she was South African, with a Nigerian father and a South African mother with Mozambican roots.
However, the Department of Home Affairs later revealed that Chidimma’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft when registering her birth.
Following this revelation, Chidimma Adetshina made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant. The Miss SA Organization then broke its silence on the matter, wishing Chidimma well in her future endeavours.
“In light of recent events, 2024 Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Adetshina has made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition,” the Miss SA Organisation said.
As if responding to critics’ questions on why they were silent whilst the Chidimma Adetshina citizenship controversy played out, the Miss SA Organisation emphasized their commitment to upholding the spirit of Ubuntu-Botho.
“Miss South Africa celebrates South Africa’s rich and inclusive culture and diversity. We uphold the spirit of Ubuntu-Botho and are committed to contributing to the self-belief, self-confidence, and fulfilment of the aspirations of all girls and women in Africa and worldwide,” read the statement.
In a separate statement shared on her Instagram, Chidimma Adetshina expressed that she withdrew from the pageant to protect the safety and well-being of herself and her family. She turned off the comments on the post to avoid further scrutiny.
“I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I. With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience,” she wrote.