Chidimma Adetshina, newly-crowned Miss Universe Nigeria and former Miss South Africa contestant has for the first time, spoken on allegations of identity theft levied against her by South African government.
Gatekeepers News reports that Chidimma was born in Soweto at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2001. Her father is of Igbo descent from Nigeria, while her mother is from Mozambique and now a naturalized South African citizen.
Recall that Chidimma withdrew from this year’s Miss South Africa pageant after her mother was accused of identity theft and received backlash from South Africans.
Home Affairs Department commenced an investigation into Chidimma’s citizenship on 8 August, following a request from Miss South Africa organisers.
Subsequently, the Department in a statement released, revealed that the South African mother whose identity was allegedly stolen by Ms Adetshina’s mother has been identified.
Chidimma was later invited to contest in Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, competed as Miss Taraba State and was crowned 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria on Saturday, 31 August.
The beauty queen is scheduled to represent Nigeria at Miss Universe contest which will be held this year in Mexico.
Chidimma denied the identity theft allegations during an interview with Arise News on Friday.
She said, “I did not steal anyone’s identity.”
“I’m just waiting for the conclusion of the case and the whole matter. Then moving forward, I will know exactly what to say because I feel right now if I say something and another thing comes out tomorrow, it could lead to contradictions.”
The twenty-three year old model further clarified her decision to remain silent on the matter, citing its legal nature.
She said, “I really avoided the questions because it is a legal matter and I don’t have all the facts around it. But what I can say is that I was not running away from anything. I was just pursuing my dream.”
