Chidimma Adetshina, who was forced to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant due to harassment regarding her nationality, has been crowned the beauty queen of a completely different nation.When Ms. Adetshina was named Miss Universe Nigeria on Saturday, she broke down in tears of happiness.After spending weeks at the centre of a fierce media storm, the 23-year-old law student declared, “This crown is not just for beauty; it’s a call for unity.”Following a backlash against her status as a finalist in the Miss South Africa competition, she received an invitation to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria.
Despite being a citizen of South Africa, some people in that country had questioned Ms. Adetshina’s eligibility to compete in the beauty pageant because her mother is from Mozambique and her father is from Nigeria.
“Nigerian contest won by a hounded South African beauty queen”
Ms. Adetshina stated in interviews that she was raised in Cape Town and was born in Soweto, a township close to Johannesburg, South Africa.The controversy surrounding her nationality prompted an inquiry, and Miss South Africa organisers requested that the country’s home affairs department check her eligibility.
Following an initial investigation, the department declared that it was possible that Miss Adetshina’s mother had used “identity theft” to obtain South African citizenship.Ms. Adetshina “could not have participated in the alleged unlawful actions of her mother as she was an infant at the time,” the statement continued.
Ms. Adetshina withdrew from the competition a day after the announcement, citing her decision to ensure her own and her family’s safety and well-being.
Her experience had garnered international attention by this point.
Ms. Adetshina was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria after the organisers learnt of her story.She would be able to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage,” according to their statement.Ms. Adetshina, who emerged victorious on Saturday, will represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe pageant in November.
Social media has praised her achievement.
One South African woman posted on Instagram, saying, “Your story is inspirational – you are stronger than you think and we love you our African sister.””Trust me guys, we Nigerians are proud of her… she’s our very own sister, a very smart, intelligent girl, our Nigerian blood runs through her veins,” exclaimed one of her supporters.
Others, however, claimed that Ms. Adetshina was the beneficiary of a “rigged” competition; the Miss Nigeria organisers have not addressed these claims.One person on Instagram commented, “She’s undeserving.”
She was only invited to compete after the final delegates were selected, and she has never resided in Nigeria. Last week, she made her first trip to Nigeria in twenty years, and to her surprise, she was given our crown. This organisation is blatantly biassed.
“To be honest, you won out of pity,” another wrote. I’m sorry for the other competitors who arrived much earlier than you.
The law student’s competitors at the Miss Universe pageant in November will include Mia le Roux, the winner of the Miss South Africa pageant this year following Ms. Adetshina’s withdrawal.As the first deaf woman to ever win the crown, Ms. le Roux made history.
(BBC)
