Former Miss Universe Nigeria winner Chidimma Adetshina is once again at the center of legal proceedings in South Africa.
The 25-year-old appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court after immigration authorities arrested her in early June 2026 over allegations that she is unlawfully residing in the country. The case marks the latest chapter in a citizenship dispute that has followed her since her Miss South Africa journey in 2024.
Chidimma Adetshina’s Pageant Journey
Born in Soweto in 2001, Adetshina first gained national attention after qualifying for the Top 16 of the 2024 Miss South Africa competition.
Her participation quickly sparked debate over her citizenship, prompting the pageant organisers to request verification from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs. As the investigation intensified, she withdrew from the competition.
She later accepted an invitation to represent Nigeria at the 2024 Miss Universe pageant in Mexico, where she made history by finishing as first runner-up — Nigeria’s highest-ever placement at the competition — while also winning the Miss Universe Africa and Oceania title.
How the Citizenship Controversy Began
The Department of Home Affairs later announced that its investigation had uncovered prima facie evidence suggesting Adetshina’s mother, Anabela Rungo, a Mozambican national, allegedly used the identity of a South African woman to register Chidimma’s birth in 2001.
Authorities subsequently cancelled Adetshina’s South African identity documents in late 2024. Her mother was arrested in February 2025 on related immigration allegations.
Following the controversy, Adetshina obtained a Nigerian passport and reportedly applied for immigration relief that would allow her to remain legally in South Africa. The application was rejected, and Home Affairs declared her a prohibited person in December 2024.
Arrest and Ongoing Court Proceedings
Immigration officials arrested Adetshina at a property in Summer Greens, Cape Town, earlier this month.
She appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on June 9, where the court released her on warning pending further proceedings. As part of her release conditions, she must remain at her declared residential address and notify authorities of any changes to her residence, employment, or movements.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 16, 2026, when the Department of Home Affairs is expected to continue its bid to deport both Adetshina and her minor son.
According to immigration officer Adrian Jackson, checks conducted on the department’s system showed that Adetshina currently holds no valid immigration status in South Africa. Authorities also allege that she re-entered the country through the Lebombo border while presenting herself as a South African citizen.
Why the Case Continues to Draw Attention
Adetshina’s case has grown beyond a beauty pageant controversy.
It has become one of South Africa’s most closely watched immigration disputes, reigniting conversations about citizenship, identity fraud, and the country’s immigration system.
While many Nigerians remember her remarkable Miss Universe run, South African authorities continue to focus on whether the documents used to establish her citizenship were obtained lawfully.
With another hearing set for July 16, the case remains far from over, and its outcome could determine whether the beauty queen can remain in the country where she was born or faces deportation.
