Miss South Africa Pageant Faces Heated Controversy as Finalist Chidimma Adetshina Comes Under Fire for Mixed Heritage in Johannesburg

The Miss South Africa beauty pageant is in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons after a heated xenophobia debate erupted surrounding one of its finalists.

Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student and model, is among the ten finalists competing for the title.

The winner will be crowned on Saturday. Since Adetshina’s inclusion in the contest was announced in July, she has faced a torrent of online abuse. The backlash has intensified, with calls from various quarters demanding her removal from the competition due to her mixed heritage.

Adetshina, who was born in South Africa, has a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican descent.

Miss South Africa officials have stated that Adetshina is eligible to compete, citing her valid South African ID and passport. South African citizenship is granted to anyone born in the country after 1995.

The criticism aimed at Adetshina has been harsh and personal.

Some detractors have accused her of not being a “true” South African, with social media posts showcasing her in Nigerian traditional attire fueling the controversy.

An investigation by the Home Affairs Ministry further complicated matters, suggesting possible identity fraud involving Adetshina’s mother.

Minister Leon Schreiber revealed that there are indications of potential fraud and identity theft, impacting the registration of Adetshina’s birth.

Despite South Africa’s identity as the “Rainbow Nation,” xenophobia persists, particularly against people from neighboring countries such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Somalia.

These sentiments are often fueled by claims that foreigners are responsible for job shortages and crime.

Such xenophobic attitudes have given rise to political movements and parties, including the far-right Patriotic Alliance led by Gayton McKenzie, who has expressed skepticism about Adetshina’s eligibility.

Support and Defense

In contrast, Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters, has defended Adetshina. Malema argued that citizenship is determined by birth and that Adetshina should not be judged based on her parents’ origins.

He emphasized that her South African identity should be recognized regardless of her family background.

Adetshina’s Background and Advocacy

Adetshina has shared that while her parents are not originally from South Africa, she was born and raised in Johannesburg. She is currently studying law at Varsity College, working as a model, and playing netball.

Her Miss South Africa bio highlights her commitment to advocating for change regarding violence against women and children.

The outcome of this controversy will be revealed when the Miss South Africa winner is announced at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria on August 10. FEMAIL has reached out to the pageant organizers for further comment.

TDPel Media

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