Chidimma Adetshina said that she intends to relocate to Nigeria after finishing as the runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant while representing the West African country, reported <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/20/miss-universe-runner-nigeria-south-africa-nationality-row-chidimma-adetshina">The Guardian</a>.
The 23-year-old law student withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition in August due to concerns for her safety and that of her family, following questions about her nationality.
This situation arose amid allegations that her mother had stolen the identity of a South African woman, a matter that is currently under investigation by South African police. She said:
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I have already decided that I want to relocate to Nigeria.
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She said she did not know whether she could go back to South Africa and that she would work with a lawyer in the hope of getting the situation resolved by the end of the year.
When asked about seeing her child and whether they would move with her to Nigeria, Adetshina responded::
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I haven’t seen my family yet. I’m really looking forward to that and I guess when we do meet we’ll be able to make this decision, because it is a hasty one.
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As Adetshina progressed in the Miss South Africa competition, she faced persistent abuse over her citizenship due to her Nigerian name and father. 
Following this, she was invited to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria in August, where she emerged victorious.
Recently, the director general of South Africa’s Home Affairs department informed parliament that Adetshina and her mother’s identity documents had been cancelled because they failed to provide sufficient reasons for their eligibility to retain them.
Adetshina, who was born in Soweto and had previously said her mother was South African with Mozambican roots, said she doesn’t have any animosity towards South Africa. She added:
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Because at the end of the day it is still a place that I call home, no matter how painful it is to say it.
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For the next year, Adetshina will be travelling the world with the Miss Universe organisation. She hopes to foster connections between her continent and the two countries she cherishes.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Chidimma Adetshina, a Miss Universe runner-up from Nigeria, is planning to move back to Nigeria due to a nationality row in South Africa. Allegations about her mother's identity led to her withdrawing from the Miss South Africa competition for safety reasons. Despite challenges, she won the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant. She hopes to resolve the situation with a lawyer and doesn't hold resentment towards South Africa. Adetshina will travel the world with Miss Universe and aims to strengthen ties between Africa and the countries she loves.

Chidimma Adetshina To Move To Nigeria After South Africa Nationality Row

Nigeria recently welcomed former Miss South Africa contestant Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, who made history by being crowned the first runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant—an achievement that marks a first for a Nigerian contestant.
As reported by <a href="https://briefly.co.za/entertainment/celebrities/203230-chidimma-adetshina-claims-shook-universe-post-sa-reacts-a-stolen-identity/">Briefly</a>, upon her arrival at Silverbird Galleria in Lagos, Chidimma received a hero’s welcome, with supporters eager to meet her and capture memories with photos.
She graciously engaged with everyone at her packed homecoming party, which featured vibrant balloons, a stunning welcome backdrop, and traditional dancers.
In the wake of her success, Adetshina expressed her gratitude in a powerful message, celebrating her role in representing Nigeria and Africa at the prestigious event held in Mexico. She said:
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I came, I saw, and I shook the universe. Returning home as Miss Universe First Runner-Up and Miss Universe Africa &amp; Oceania. I’m filled with immense gratitude for Nigeria and Africa for believing in me and helping me reclaim my dreams.
</blockquote>
Social media users, particularly in South Africa, had mixed reactions to her recent achievement, with many bringing up her past identity theft case.
While criticism and accusations resurfaced, several supporters came to her defence, shocked at the intensity of the hate she received.
As Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, the South African-born model earned significant prizes, including $100,000 in cash, a one-year lease for a New York apartment, and a stunning $3 million diamond crown.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chidimma Adetshina, a former Miss South Africa contestant, became the first Nigerian to become the runner-up at the Miss Universe pageant. She received a warm welcome in Nigeria with a party and traditional dancers. She thanked Africa for supporting her. Some people criticized her because of a past case, while others defended her. As Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, she won $100,000, a New York apartment lease, and a $3 million diamond crown.

US$3 Million Diamond Crown, US$100,000, And NYC Lease For Miss Universe 2024 Runner-Up Chidimma Adetshina

South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs is set to revoke the identity and travel documents of former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina and her Mozambican-born mother.
Home Affairs officials provided an update to Parliament’s Portfolio Committee regarding ongoing investigations into corruption and related issues.
Home Affairs director-general Tommy Makhode told the committee that the department’s counter-corruption and security services completed their investigation, and the matter has been referred to the Hawks for further action. He said (via <a href="https://www.citizen.co.za/news/home-affairs-chidimma-adetshina-fraud-hawks/">Citizen</a>):
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That matter is currently with the DPCI [Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation]. They have concluded that investigation according to [Hawks head] General [Godfrey] Lebeya, they are now waiting for the NPA [National Prosecuting Authority] to advise them on the next steps.
</blockquote>
Makhode said that Adetshina and her mother did not respond by the 28 October deadline to provide reasons for retaining their South African documents. He said:
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As of yesterday, we have not received any response and, therefore, the department will be proceeding with the withdrawal of those documents in line with the Identification Act.
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He added that Adetshina and her mother could face fraud charges.
Albert Matsaung, acting deputy director-general for immigration at Home Affairs, told MPs that officials visited a property registered to Chidimma Adetshina in an attempt to locate her mother.
Matsaung confirmed that Adetshina’s mother had not been arrested because she could not be found at the residence. He stated that records indicate she is still in the country.
Home Affairs could not determine how Adetshina’s mother travelled to Nigeria last month to support her daughter at the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, which Adetshina won.
No movement was recorded in the department’s systems for her registered passport number.
Matsaung noted that Adetshina’s mother appears frequently on social media, including Instagram, and there are photos from the Nigeria event that seem to show her.
He added that despite the similarities in appearance between the individual in the photos and Adetshina’s mother, no trace of her passport used for travel from Mozambique to South Africa was found. The investigation is still ongoing.
Adetshina’s recent Instagram posts indicate she is currently in the United States, where she is preparing to participate in the Miss Universe pageant scheduled for November 16 in Mexico.
Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student from Soweto, gained attention by entering the Miss South Africa competition this year.
She withdrew from the contest on August 8, citing safety concerns related to speculation about her nationality.
Her withdrawal followed a statement from Home Affairs, which claimed her mother may have obtained citizenship fraudulently by assuming another person’s identity.
This allegation emerged after an investigation into archival records and hospital visits.
The department also identified both the mother and child as being affected by the alleged identity theft.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Home Affairs department in South Africa wants to take away the IDs of Chidimma Adetshina and her mom because of possible fraud. They didn't respond to explain by the deadline. They might face fraud charges. Adetshina's mom was not found at her home but is still in the country. The investigation is ongoing because they can't find records of her traveling to Nigeria. Even though her mom appears in photos on social media, they can't find her passport. Adetshina is now in the US getting ready for the Miss Universe pageant. Her mom is accused of getting citizenship fraudulently.

South Africa’s Home Affairs Dept To Revoke Chidimma Adetshina And Her Mother’s IDs

Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina, a finalist in the 2024 Miss South Africa competition, has withdrawn from the pageant amid a torrent of xenophobic attacks and a government investigation into her nationality.
In a statement posted to her Instagram page on Thursday, Adetshina cited concerns for the “safety and wellbeing” of herself and her family as the reason for her withdrawal.
The 23-year-old aspiring pageant contestant faced a barrage of vicious, xenophobic comments online after being announced as a finalist in July 2024. She wrote:
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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.
❤️❤️❤️ 
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina
</blockquote>
Adetshina withdrew from the Miss South Africa 2024 competition following a torrent of online abuse and xenophobic attacks after her Nigerian heritage was publicly scrutinised.
Many South Africans, including cabinet ministers, questioned her credentials, leading to an investigation into her citizenship by the country’s Home Affairs ministry, at the request of the pageant organizers.
On August 7, the South African government stated that the investigation had uncovered “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud and stolen the identity of a South African woman at the time of Adetshina’s birth.
Faced with this onslaught of harassment and the intrusive government investigation, Adetshina made the difficult decision to withdraw from the Miss South Africa 2024 competition. Said SA home affairs minister, Leon Schreiber:
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Reasons exist to believe that fraud and identity theft may have been committed by the person recorded in home affairs records as Chidimma 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.
</blockquote>
Schreiber said that the ministry was obtaining legal advice on the implications on Adetshina’s citizenship, adding the contestant did not participate in the alleged unlawful actions as she was an infant at the time.
The Ministry also said the investigation has widened to identify and pursue any officials involved in the alleged fraudulent scheme.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Chidimma Adetshina, a contestant in the Miss South Africa competition, withdrew because people were being mean to her online about her Nigerian background. Some government officials even investigated her citizenship. She decided to leave the competition to protect herself and her family. The investigation found that her mother may have stolen someone's identity when Adetshina was born. The government is now looking into this further to see who else might have been involved. Adetshina was just a baby when these things happened, so she didn't do anything wrong.

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