Chidimma Adeshina, South Africa’s beauty queen, has a citizenship problem. The 23-year-old law student, who shot to fame as a Miss South Africa finalist, is under scrutiny because of her nationality. Given her Nigerian and Mozambican heritage, concerns have been raised about her suitability to represent South Africa.
Concerns have been raised about the legitimacy of Adeshina’s South African citizenship due to allegations of identity theft against her mother. Due to the issue, she was forced to leave the Miss South Africa competition as she was concerned about her family’s safety.
According to the BBCthe Home Office began investigating her case after she became a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, but was criticized as people questioned her suitability to compete because her mother has Mozambican roots and her father is Nigerian.
The controversy sparked a wave of xenophobic vitriol in South Africa, after which Ms Adetshina de BBC she would need therapy to recover. The Ministry of the Interior announced the withdrawal of its identity papers to a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Tommy Makhode, the most senior official in the department, said Ms Adeshina’s mother would also have her documents revoked after they both failed to meet Monday’s deadline to show cause why they should be eligible to retain them .
Adetshina, who has not lived in Nigeria for 20 years, received an invitation to represent Nigeria in the Miss Universe competition despite the controversy. This unexpected turn of events has further complicated her situation.