South Africans launch petition to bar Chidimma Adetshina from Miss Universe

A South African group, Progressive Forces, has launched a petition against Chidimma Adetshina from competing in the Miss Universe 2024.

This comes after the arrival of Adetshina in Mexico on Wednesday.

We reported that the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria arrived in Mexico to represent the country at the 2024 edition of the global competition scheduled to be held in November.

Chidimma Adetshina had faced criticism in South Africa during the announcement of her Miss South Africa contest.

In response to the controversy, the South Africa Department of Home Affairs, DHA, said preliminary evidence suggests Chidimma's mother committed fraud and identity theft.

Following the allegations, she withdrew from the pageant and accepted an invitation to join the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.

In the wake of the development, Progressive Forces of South Africa petitioned the organisers of the Miss Universe on Wednesday to prevent Chidimma from participating in the competition, arguing that her involvement could jeopardise the integrity of the Miss Universe brand.

The petition has recorded over 1,000 signatures in 24 hours.

"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 group wrote in its petition.