Chidimma Adetshina withdraws from Miss South Africa pageant
Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina has officially withdrawn from the Miss South Africa pageant amid ongoing controversy regarding her citizenship status.
The 23-year-old Miss SA finalist shared her decision in a statement on her official Instagram account on Thursday, August 8, 2024.
Her withdrawal comes in light of recent announcements from the Department of Home Affairs, which indicated that they had reasons to suspect her mother may have committed fraud and identity theft during Chidimma’s infancy.
In her statement, Chidimma reflected on her journey in the Miss South Africa 2024 competition, stating, “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 from the competition for the safety and well-being of my family and me.”
She expressed her gratitude towards the Miss South Africa organization, saying, “With the support of the Miss South Africa organization, I leave with a heart full of gratitude for the amazing experience.”
Chidimma also extended her best wishes to her fellow finalists, noting, “I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow finalists all the best for the remainder of the competition. Whoever wears the crown represents us all.”
She was scheduled to compete in the 2024 Miss South Africa event in Pretoria on Saturday.
