Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, Denies Identity Theft Allegations from South Africa
Newly-crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has publicly addressed allegations of identity theft raised by South Africa’s government. The beauty queen, who had previously faced scrutiny during her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant, firmly denied the claims in a recent interview on Arise News.
The controversy began when the South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) suggested that Chidimma’s mother may have been involved in identity fraud. According to reports, Chidimma, born in Soweto’s Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2001, has a Nigerian father of Igbo descent and a Mozambican mother who is now a naturalized South African citizen.
In response to the allegations, Chidimma withdrew from the Miss South Africa competition and later accepted an opportunity to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, where she emerged victorious.
Speaking on the situation, the 23-year-old stated, “I did not steal anyone’s identity. I’m just waiting for the conclusion of the case before making any further comments. Right now, I don’t want to say something that might contradict future developments.”
Chidimma emphasized that she has been cautious in discussing the matter, as it is still under legal review. “I wasn’t running from the issue. I was simply focused on pursuing my dreams,” she explained.
She reiterated that while she is not fully informed about all aspects of the case, she is certain of her innocence, stating, “What I can confidently say is that I did not steal anyone’s identity.”
The case remains ongoing, with Chidimma awaiting further updates from the authorities.
