Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, a 23-year-old Nigerian-South African beauty queen, has withdrawn from the Miss South Africa (Miss SA) pageant following a series of xenophobic attacks.
Adetshina, who had reached the top 16 in the ongoing competition, faced backlash due to her heritage.
In a statement posted on her Instagram, Adetshina expressed gratitude to those who supported her during her Miss South Africa journey.
She stated, “After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family. With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience. I wish my fellow finalists all the best for the remainder of the competition.”
The controversy surrounding Adetshina intensified on Wednesday, August 7, when the South African Department of Home Affairs, in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Minister, Duwayne Esau, alleged that Adetshina’s mother had illegally obtained South African citizenship.
The investigation, reportedly prompted by a request from the Miss SA organisers, suggested that Adetshina’s mother might have committed fraud and identity theft. However, the department clarified that Adetshina herself could not have been involved in the alleged crime, as she was an infant at the time it supposedly occurred in 2001.
Further complications arose when it was revealed that an “innocent South African mother” may have had her identity stolen as part of the alleged fraud. This situation led to a wave of criticism from some South Africans, who questioned Adetshina’s eligibility to compete in the pageant, arguing that she was not South African by birth.
In response to the attacks, Adetshina maintained her South African identity, asserting in various interviews, “I am a South African citizen and have met all the requirements to be a part of the Miss SA competition. The fact that my father is Nigerian does not take away from the fact that I am South African. My mother is South African, and I was born and raised in this country.”
The Miss SA organisation also confirmed that Adetshina met all the criteria to participate in the pageant, noting that contestants must be South African citizens with a valid ID or passport. The organisation emphasized that citizenship in South Africa can be acquired by birth, descent, or naturalisation, as outlined in the amended South African Citizenship Act.
Despite the controversy, it is worth noting that in 2001, Vanessa Carreira, born to Portuguese-Angolan parents in South Africa, won the Miss South Africa title, highlighting a precedent for contestants with diverse backgrounds.
