Miss Universe Nigeria representative Chidimma Adetshina – who is gunning for the ultimate Miss Universe crown this month – is facing criminal charges back “home” by the Department of Home Affairs (DHA)
Earlier this week, officials revealed that the 23-year-old model – who was allegedly born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and Mozambican mother – did not meet a deadline to make representations proving her innocence.
This follows a thorough investigation following reports of identity theft and fraud by Chidimma’s mother when registering her birth in 2001. DHA also claimed that both Chidimma and her mother are facing criminal prosecution by the Hawks.
But how will this affect her participation in the pageant, which takes place on 16 November in Mexico?
CHIDIMMA’S ID, PASSPORT ARE REVOKED
While making headlines in South Africa, Chidimma Adetshina has been posting extensively about her time in Mexico, where she will compete in the Miss Universe pageant on 16 November.
While she is no longer considered a South African citizen, she will likely retain her Nigerian citizenship, as her father was born in the African country.
Her participation at the Miss Universe will not be affected as organisers have made amendments that titleholders do not necessarily have to be born or live in the country they represent.
Images via Instagram:
@chichi_vanessa
DOES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION IMPACT MISS UNIVERSE QUEST?
According to pageant expert Rina Hendriks, Chidimma Adetshina’s plight with the DHA will likely not affect her participation in Miss Universe.
Planet International claims that while there is no mention of it in pageant criteria, the onus is on the country not send to a delegate with a criminal record or pending one to Miss Universe.
Nigerian pageant organisers have also fiercely defended Chidimma – a former Miss SA finalist – who they believe is “innocent.”
In August, Guy Murray-Bruce of Silvebird TV – which owns the rights to Miss Universe – told Arise News that he believed Chidimma’s chances at Miss SA had been “sabotaged.”
He said at the time, “I don’t know if it was cooked up. It’s a bit twisted. She was doing so well in the pageant that they wanted to get her out. That’s how I see it.”
He added: “We’re trying to help someone who has been abandoned. No fault of hers. She is a victim because she has a Nigerian father and a South African mother.”
DHA has since proven that Chidimma’s mother is not a South African citizen and was involved in identity theft and fraud when registering her birth. By default of her relation to her mother, both women have been stripped of their SA IDs and passports.
DO YOU THINK CHIDIMMA ADETSHINA COULD WIN MISS UNIVERSE?
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