South Africans launch petition to bar Chidimma Adetshina from Miss Universe in Mexico

• South African advocacy group Progressive Forces has launched a petition urging Chidimma Adetshina to be excluded from the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant.

• Adetshina, who will represent Nigeria in a global competition in November, has been petitioned following her arrival in Mexico.

• The newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria faced backlash in South Africa during her initial participation in the Miss South Africa pageant.

Progressive Forces, an advocacy organization based in South Africa, has launched a petition urging that Chidimma Adetshina be disqualified from participating in the forthcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant.

This petition was initiated following Adetshina’s arrival in Mexico, where she is set to represent Nigeria in the international competition scheduled for November.

According to GistLover, the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria encountered significant criticism in South Africa during her earlier participation in the Miss South Africa pageant.

Recently, the South African Department of Home Affairs revealed preliminary findings indicating that Adetshina’s mother was implicated in identity fraud, which prompted Adetshina to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest and subsequently accept an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.

In light of these circumstances, Progressive Forces submitted their petition on Wednesday, contending that Adetshina’s involvement could jeopardize the integrity of the Miss Universe brand.

Within a day, the petition attracted over 1,000 signatures. The organization expressed serious concerns regarding Adetshina’s participation, emphasizing that her mother has been convicted of identity fraud.

“We are greatly concerned about Chidimma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria, whose mother has been found guilty of committing identity fraud.

“On the 29th of October, Home Affairs cancelled Chidimma Adetshina and her mother’s identities by court order. We are writing on behalf of everyone who stands for justice to plead with Miss Universe to cancel her entry,” the petition stated.