CHIDIMMA Adetshina, a 2024 Miss South Africa pageant finalist, continues to face criticism over her eligibility due to her Nigerian heritage. The controversy intensified after a video of her traditional Nigerian wedding surfaced online, allegedly violating competition guidelines.
Adetshina, born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother who is now a naturalised South African, is a dual citizen of South Africa and Nigeria. According to the South African Citizenship Act, she qualifies for citizenship by birth, providing the legal basis for her participation in the pageant.
The controversy surrounding Adetshina’s eligibility began shortly after she entered the Miss South Africa competition, scheduled for August 10 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria. As she advanced to the Top 30 and became a finalist, she became a focal point in the country’s xenophobia debate.
Criticism peaked on Monday when the entertainment blog MDNnews published her traditional Nigerian wedding video. The video, which shows Adetshina and her husband in traditional attire, sparked controversy due to the perception that a married or divorced woman is not eligible for the Miss South Africa pageant. However, the pageant’s guidelines do not disqualify contestants based on marital status.
In an interview with Sowetan SMa, Adetshina revealed she was once married but divorced in February 2024. She explained that her divorce stemmed from differences in ideology about an African married woman’s role. Despite the challenges, she expressed gratitude for the support of her parents and her journey in the competition.
South Africa’s Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie, has also weighed in on the controversy, urging Adetshina to prove her nationality. McKenzie, known for his anti-immigrant stance, questioned why she couldn’t simply produce documents to confirm her South African citizenship.
Despite the criticism, the Miss South Africa organisation has stood by Adetshina. In a statement, they confirmed she met all the requirements to participate in the competition. ‘All documentation provided by the entrants is screened and vetted. Chidimma is a South African citizen and has met all the requirements to participate in the Miss South Africa competition. Her mother is South African (Zulu), and her father is Nigerian,’ the statement read.
Adetshina’s participation in the pageant has highlighted the broader issues of xenophobia and national identity in South Africa. As the competition draws near, the focus remains on whether she will be able to overcome the scrutiny and represent South Africa on the global stage. The winner of Miss South Africa 2024 will succeed Natasha Joubert of Gauteng and represent the country at the Miss Universe 2024 pageant in Mexico.
