Beauty queen Chidimma Adetshina, a finalist in the Miss South Africa pageant, is set to lose her South African identity and travel documents amid a fierce nationality debate. Proudly identifying as both South African and Nigerian, Adetshina’s eligibility faced scrutiny when her mother, of Mozambican origin, was accused of “identity theft” to obtain South African citizenship. The controversy escalated when the Department of Home Affairs announced the revocation of both her and her mother’s documents after they missed a deadline to defend their eligibility.

After withdrawing from Miss South Africa, Adetshina was invited to compete in Nigeria, where she went on to win Miss Universe Nigeria. Now representing Nigeria in the Miss Universe competition set for November 16 in Mexico, she remains at the center of heated discussions on nationality and identity. Meanwhile, South Africa’s Home Affairs department has referred the case to the Hawks, a special crimes unit, with charges reportedly classified as a “case of fraud.” Adetshina, who was born in Soweto, expressed in August her dual pride in her South African and Nigerian heritage despite the backlash.

This incident has sparked xenophobic debates in South Africa, with local officials cautioning against further misinformation as the story unfolds. As Adetshina prepares to compete globally, her journey highlights complex issues around identity, nationality, and the ongoing impacts of cross-border cultural ties.