Woman switches to Miss Universe Nigeria after Miss South Africa row
Published:
4 months ago
Source:
MyJoyOnline
Chidimma Adetshina, the pageant hopeful who was forced to withdraw from Miss South Africa due to a nationality row, has accepted an invitation to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria.
"I'm looking forward to participating in Africa's most prestigious beauty pageant," the 23-year-old said in a video posted to her Instagram account with a beaming smile on her face. Ms Adetshina contested in this year's Miss South Africa but pulled out after she found herself the target of a xenophobic backlash. Despite being a South African citizen, people questioned her eligibility because her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots. The Home Affairs department investigated her at the behest of the Miss South Africa organisers and said Ms Adetshina's mother may have committed "identity fraud" to get South African nationality. After this, Ms Adetshina made the "difficult decision" to leave the competition for her family's safety and well-being last Thursday.