Chidimma Adetshina | |
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| Born | Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina 6 June 2001 Soweto, South Africa |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) [1] |
| Beauty pageant titleholder | |
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Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina (born 8 January 2001) is a Nigerian-South African beauty pageant titleholder who won Miss Universe Nigeria 2024. [2] [3] She represented Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico and finished as the first runner-up. [4] She was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania as the highest ranked African Contestant of 2024. Her placement is Nigeria's highest at any Miss Universe pageant. [5]
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina was born in Soweto, South Africa to an Igbo Nigerian father, and a Mozambican mother. [6] Her father is of Igbo descent while her mother is a Mozambican who is accused of allegedly committing identity fraud in South Africa. Adetshina grew up in Cape Town, South Africa. As of 2024, she is a law student. [7] [8] [9] [10]
Adetshina entered Miss South Africa 2024, [8] [10] but following an investigation by the Department of Home Affairs into her mother's citizenship, she withdrew from the pageant, citing concerns for her safety and well-being. [11] [12] [13] The investigation later allegedly uncovered preliminary evidence of fraud and identity theft related to her mother's acquisition of South African citizenship in 2001. It was claimed that she was unable to participate in the contest due to the pending case. [14] [13] [15]
Adetshina's participation in the Miss South Africa pageant faced scrutiny due to questions about her citizenship and eligibility. [16] [7] [17] Concerns were raised regarding her dual citizenship of South Africa and Nigeria, leading the South African Department of Home Affairs to investigate her background. The investigation allegedly revealed preliminary evidence suggesting potential issues with her mother's acquisition of South African citizenship. It was said that the Department of Home Affairs planned to take further action, which may have included potential criminal charges based on the investigation's findings. [18] [19] [20] Adetshina garnered support from the public who saw her as a representation of South Africa's diverse population. A South African far-left political party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, [21] [22] publicly defended her, calling for an end to xenophobia in South Africa and advocating for inclusivity. While other parties, namely the African National Congress and the Patriotic Alliance [16] advocated for an investigation into her nationality. The minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, confirmed that the department would investigate the nationality of Adetshina only after her family requested it. Additional controversy emerged when a video circulated online showing Adetshina celebrating her progress in the pageant with her Nigerian relatives. [23] [24] [25] [14] [26] [27]
The Miss South Africa pageant maintained that Adetshina fulfilled all the requirements to participate in the competition. [28]
In October 2024, the Department of Home Affairs of South Africa revoked her South African identity papers following an investigation into her mother's origins. [29]
Due to the victimisation of Adetshina by some South Africans, the organizers of the Puebla International Festival withdrew its invitations to the South African panelists and guests. [30] The managers cited in its letter on X that the removal was due to South Africa's undermining of the very principle of justice and equality, as well as human dignity that the literature seeks to maintain. The country was no longer listed as the featured country at the festival that took place in Mexico. [30] [31] Following the Miss Universe 2024 event, Chidimma stated of moving to settle in Nigeria. [32] In a BBC Pidgin interview after the pageantry, Miss Adetshina confirmed that she would be retiring from the beauty-queen phase of her life with a new focus on education. [33]
On 31 August 2024, Adetshina, represented Taraba State and won Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Competing against 24 other contestants, the event was broadcast on GOtv and YouTube. Adetshina proceeded to represent Nigeria at Miss Universe in Mexico, in November 2024. [34] [35]
Adetshina represented Nigeria at Miss Universe 2024, on 16 November 2024, at the Arena CDMX in Mexico City. Adetshina was first runner-up, against contestants from 126 countries. Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig won the contest, and Mexico's María Fernanda Beltrán was second runner-up. [2] Adetshina's placement is Nigeria's highest at Miss Universe. [5]
Adetshina was also crowned Miss Universe Africa and Oceania as the highest ranked African Contestant of 2024. [4]
