On June 1, when Silverbird Group, organisers of the Miss Universe Nigeria beauty pageant, officially announced the 2024 edition of the pageant, they were full of enthusiasm.
In the announcement, signed by the National Director of the beauty pageant, Guy Murray-Bruce, the enthusiasm was summed up thus: “This year, the stakes are higher, as we are committed to an event that promises to provide more suspense, excitement and rewards.”
However, little did Murray-Bruce know that the “suspense” and the “excitement” they anticipated would come from a 23-year-old with a bi-national parentage and controversial nationality.
Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, which was the second edition — at the same time, the 38th edition of Silverbird hosting beauty pageant since 1986 — was worth ₦10 million in cash and other prizes for the winner and was themed ‘Digital Divas’ which reflected the growing significance of the pageant’s digital presence and influence.
With its catchphrase: “We make you shine in your happiest moments,” Miss Universe Nigeria provides a platform for Nigerian women to showcase their beauty, intelligence, and cultural pride to the world — and, importantly, celebrates inclusivity and diversity.
However, inclusivity and diversity mean different things to different people, organisations, and countries. For beauty pageant organisers, inclusivity and diversity could spark controversy like it did in the case of Chidimma Adetshina.
Adetshina’s family and marriage background
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina was born at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital, on May 4, 2001, in Soweto, South Africa.
The 5 feet 7 inches tall model, influencer, netball player, and law student, was born to Michael Adetshina from Enugu State (Nigeria) and Anabela Rungo from Mozambique, who allegedly naturalised as a Zulu South African.
Adetshina is passionate about sports, advocates against women and gender-based violence, and lives by her motto: “Dreams are valid when actions are taken.”
A few years ago, she was a club hostess and hosted several events at Saints Club, where it was reported she met her ex-husband — a Nigerian of Igbo descent — Emeka Festus Okafor, also known as King Sefo.
Before marrying Okafor in December 2022 and later divorcing him in February 2024, Adetshina had a child out of wedlock.
She revealed that she and Okafor were not compatible because, according to her, he had “this ideology of what an African married woman is. I didn’t want to be in a position where I can’t go out, but had to clean, cook. That was just not for me because as a society, we are way past that phase.”
She further revealed that although her marriage robbed her of the beauty of pregnancy and marriage, “It brings me joy that I get to take new steps with my son.”
Adetshina’s Miss South Africa travails
Founded in 1956, the Miss South Africa pageant was only for white females, until 1977 when females of all races were allowed to contest.
Among the Miss South Africa 2024 eligibility requirements, the organisers said Chidimma Adetshina could contest since she met all the requirements.
However, against the xenophobic backlash that trailed her participation in the contest, regarding her parentage and nationality status, the organisation approached the Department of Home Affairs to investigate the issue and later released a statement on August 8th regarding Adetshina’s withdrawal from the contest, after she had reached the top 10 finalists in the contest.
Days later, after Adetshina withdrew from the contest, 29-year-old Mia le Roux was crowned Miss South Africa 2024, the first differently-abled person to wear the crown.
Investigations into Adetshina’s mother’s identity
The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) is a South African government agency that offers civic and immigration services to South African and non-South African citizens.
On August 7, DHA released a statement titled ‘Home Affairs on the investigation of Chidimma Adetshina’s mother’. The DHA stated that the investigation was based on the request received from the organisers of Miss South Africa and the consent provided by Adetshina and her mother.
The investigation revealed that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in Home Affairs records as Adetshina’s mother.
“An innocent South African mother, whose identity may have been stolen as part of the alleged fraud committed by Adetshina’s mother, suffered as a result because she could not register her child,” the statement read.
At the end of the investigation, DHA hinted at pressing criminal charges against all implicated parties.
According to further information on the DHA investigation, published by Newzroom Afrika, it was reported that Adetshina’s father was also allegedly involved in the fraudulent registration of her birth and that it was unclear if he or her mother had valid documentation to live in South Africa.
The report added that DHA was seeking legal advice on how this affects Adetshina’s citizenship status.
Lending her voice to the issue, Stefanie De Saude Darbandi of the De Saude Darbandi (DSD) Immigration Attorneys, stated that, if Adetshina’s mother’s permanent residency and subsequent citizenship were fraudulent, Adetshina’s status as a South African citizen is in jeopardy, potentially rendering her an illegal foreigner.
De Saude Darbandi however added that if Adetshina was born in South Africa, had her birth registered there and had lived in the country until reaching the age of majority, “She may still qualify for citizenship, regardless of her parents’ status.
The South African Minister of Sport, Arts, and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, while reacting to the issue, said that South Africa should not have a Nigerian contestant in the Miss South Africa competition.
“Whenever you present yourself to represent South Africans, you are willingly opening yourself up to scrutiny. South Africans shouldn’t be shamed and accused (of malice) simply because they are asking needed questions of the lady who wants to represent them as Miss South Africa,” McKenzie said.
Online and offline, many South Africans were interested in the case as well. On social media, many South Africans expressed their opinions on the issue. One of them could not stand a “non-South African” representing their culture and carrying their flag. Others said it is disappointing for a married woman and foreign national to represent them.
@Dr_Shiyaklenga posted: “Illegal foreigners getting married in our country. Imagine if we let this girl be our Miss SA? The whole of Nigeria would hold a South African citizenship.”
@TheGeopol posted: “South Africans are weak for allowing such, even Mandela would be ashamed. You all failed to protect the only functioning black country on earth.”
On the other hand, there were some notable South African individuals and organisations who publicly supported Adetshina during these trying periods and viewed her as an embodiment of South Africa’s diverse population. They included the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), African National Congress (ANC), Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), etc.
Influential people including Charles Awuzie, Prince Kaybee, Pearl Thusi, and Julius Malema, expressed their opinions that stirred the debate.
Adetshina’s invitation to Miss Universe Nigeria
Following the controversies and xenophobic backlash, Adetshina lamented on social media that the hate on Nigerians by South Africans is pathetic and uncalled for, adding that Africans should live in peace and unity.
“If an American born of South African parents went on to win Miss USA, South Africans would celebrate and boast. But when a girl born of Nigerian parents enters Miss SA, it’s a problem. The xenophobia in SA is disgusting,” she posted.
The beauty queen, after careful consideration, decided to withdraw from the Miss South Africa competition for “the safety and wellbeing of my family and I,” she wrote on Instagram.
National Director of Miss Universe Nigeria, Guy Murray-Bruce, speaking on Adetshina’s invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria contest, alleged victimisation of the beauty queen by South Africans because of her parentage and sabotage of her chances at the Miss South African pageant ─ “because she was doing well in the pageant that they wanted to get her out.”
Murray-Bruce stressed that Adetshina’s only crime was being half Nigerian, and that was where the xenophobia came in.
“Nigeria is an open country. We don’t have xenophobia in Nigeria. We don’t practise that here. We’re trying to help someone who has been abandoned,” he said.
Murray-Bryce added that Chidimma had a Nigerian passport and was entitled to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria competition.
Nigerian South African-based businessman and founder of Gemsbok Group, Charles Awuzie, was one of the people who reached out to Adetshina during her Miss South Africa and DHA travails.
Awuzie revealed on Facebook that he — with a South African lady and a Nigerian friend — visited Adetshina in South Africa before she left for Nigeria for the Miss Universe Nigeria contest.
He described Adetshina as a humble lady who is grounded in her bi-national identity as a Nigerian South African, who would defend South Africa if anyone tried to say something negative about how she was treated.
Awuzie emphasised that he loved both countries — Nigeria and South Africa — and that as a father, raising a family of two boys in South Africa, he wanted the “cold war” to stop.
While urging Nigerians and South Africans to shun hatred and discrimination and start discussing partnerships for wealth creation to solve poverty in both countries, he stated that he wanted Adetshina to win because of her passion for contributing to the social cohesion between Nigerians and South Africans.
“Chidimma has a future in the world of beauty and brains. Chidimma will represent every child who was bullied because of the circumstances of their birth,” he added.
Adetshina and the Miss Universe Nigeria contest
A few days after Adetshina accepted the Miss Universe Nigeria invitation to participate in the beauty pageant, she arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where she was welcomed by a crowd of over 100 people.
According to a video that trended on Instagram, she regarded the invitation as participating in “Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant.”
Speaking about Nigeria and her dream for the contest, she said, “I’m excited I’m in my father’s land and I want to experience more about it. It’s been 20 years since I’ve been here. I want to know about the culture and where I come from.”
For the contest, she stated her occupation as a “model” and her interests as “inclusion, diversity and social impact.”
Also, in her application, her quote was reported to be: “As women, we have faced adversity, and I want to use my voice and story, along with the Miss Universe Nigeria platform, to promote inclusion and acceptance. I also want to educate people about the power of diversity in building a strong community that benefits everyone.”
Although Murray-Bryce hinted that Adetshina has a Nigerian passport and was entitled to participate in the beauty pageant, it was however not clear if she has Nigerian nationality.
From the information on the contestants’ states of origin (25 states in total), all south-eastern states were represented, all south-southern states were represented, all south-western states were represented, only one north-central state was not represented (Nasarawa State), only one north-western state was represented (Kaduna State), only one north-eastern state was represented (Taraba State), and Abuja was represented.
It was not clear why Adetshina, who is Igbo from a south-eastern Nigerian state, represented Taraba State, a north-eastern state in the contest.
Adetshina’s mission when she agreed to participate in the contest was simple and clearly stated: “My goal is to win the crown for Miss Universe Nigeria. I want to share with everyone my story as a woman who has been through adversity to bring people together. I see value in diversity and celebrate our differences.”
And, among the 25 Nigerian beauty queens, Adetshina won and was crowned Miss Universe Nigeria 2024. With this feat, she will represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe Pageant competition in Mexico in November, where she will compete with other beauty queens around the world, including Miss South Africa, Mia le Roux.
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