BREAKING: Nigerian-South African model, Chidimma Adetshina withdraws from Miss South Africa competition

Eric Patrick

Nigerian-born Miss South Africa finalist, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, has announced her withdrawal from the competition, citing safety and the well-being of herself and that of her family members.

Chidimma made this known in a statement shared on her Instagram page on Thursday, amid the continued controversies surrounding her nationality ignited by the South African authorities, despite organisers’ certification of her qualification.

In a statement seen by THEWATCH AFRICA, Chidimma wrote, “I would like to start off by thanking everyone who has stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey. I'm really grateful for all the love and support I have been shown.

“Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey; however, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I. 

“With the support of the Miss South Africa Organisation, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for this amazing experience.

“I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all of the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all.”

Born in Soweto, South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother who is of Mozambican descent, Chidimma’s participation in the competition and her rise to become a finalist in the competition has been a subject of controversy for some time as many South African have objected to participation, citing that she is not truly a South African.

Social media attacks have targeted her Nigerian heritage despite her being born in South Africa and meeting all competition requirements.

According to multiple reports gathered by THEWATCH AFRICA on Wednesday revealed that the South African government said that Chidimma’s mother may have been involved in identity theft.

The new development regarding her mother was contained in a circular issued by the country’s Department of Home Affairs dated August 7, 2024, in which it gave an update on the controversies surrounding Chidimma’s qualification for the upcoming Miss South Africa Event slated for Saturday.

Chidimma became a key figure in South Africa's xenophobia debate and national identity discussions after making it to the Top 30 and becoming a finalist in the Miss SA competition. 

However, criticism escalated on Monday when a video of her marriage surfaced, which many South Africans also commented about.

New facts revealed by the SA Department of Home Affairs’ statement stated that considering the circumstances of her birth, Chidimma is not qualified to contest in Saturday’s event. 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) expressed deep concern over escalating Afrophobic attacks on Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina.

EFF, a South African Marxist–Leninist and pan-Africanist political party founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League President Julius Malema, and his allies, in 2013, lamented the attacks on Adetshina over her Nigerian and Mozambican roots.

"Adetshina's eligibility to compete for the Miss South Africa title should never have been questioned as the competition performed due diligence to verify the status of all contestants," the EFF stated in a statement on Wednesday.

The party stressed that the intense scrutiny and vitriol aimed at Adetshina revealed a "continued colonised mindset among many South Africans".