A petition in South Africa seeks to exclude Chidima Vanessa Onwe, a Nigerian-South African, from the Miss South Africa competition, sparking controversy. Critics accuse petitioners of xenophobia, while supporters argue she doesn’t represent South African identity. The debate highlights broader issues of nationality and representation in the pageant.
On July 25, 2024, a petition emerged calling for the disqualification of Chidimma Onwe Adetshina from the Miss South Africa pageant. Adetshina, a 23-year-old beauty queen, was born to a Nigerian father and a South African mother with Mozambican roots. The petition gained traction after Adetshina removed Nigerian and Mozambican flags from her TikTok profile, sparking accusations of disloyalty among some South Africans.
As of the latest count, over 7,000 signatures have been collected in support of the petition. Critics argue that Adetshina’s participation threatens the integrity of the competition, with some questioning her South African identity due to her mixed heritage. Additionally, there is controversy surrounding her status as a divorced mother, though Miss SA’s rules, updated in 2022, now allow divorced and married women to compete.
Reactions to the petition vary widely. Supporters of the petition argue that Adetshina’s eligibility is questionable, while opponents criticize the xenophobic undertones of the campaign. Social media users have voiced their frustrations, with some suggesting that the focus on Adetshina distracts from more pressing national issues, like political corruption. Others defend her right to participate, citing her South African citizenship and the principle of inclusivity
South Africans have expressed their disapproval of the half-Nigerian South African citizen Chidnma Adetshina, who became a Miss SA finalist. Julius Malema recently spoke out to defend Chidinma Adetshina from the uproar.
She is not her parents; she is herself. So why do you say she’s from Nigeria or she’s from Mozambique? She was born here. We cannot punish people on the basis of where their parents come from.”
