South Africans launch petition to bar Chidimma Adetshina from Miss Universe

• Progressive Forces, a South African group, has launched a petition to prevent Chidimma Adetshina from competing in Miss Universe 2024.
• Adetshina faced significant backlash in South Africa during her participation in the Miss South Africa pageant, which led to her withdrawal after the fraud allegations came to light.
• Despite the controversy, Adetshina arrived in Mexico to represent Nigeria at the upcoming Miss Universe competition scheduled for November.
• The petition against her participation gained over 1,000 signatures within 24 hours.

Progressive Forces, a South African advocacy group, has initiated a petition calling for Chidimma Adetshina to be barred from competing in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 pageant.

The petition follows Adetshina’s arrival in Mexico, where she will represent Nigeria in the global competition scheduled for November.

Within Nigeria reports that the newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria faced backlash in South Africa during her initial participation in the Miss South Africa pageant.

The South African Department of Home Affairs recently announced that preliminary findings suggest Adetshina’s mother was involved in identity fraud, leading Adetshina to withdraw from the Miss South Africa contest and accept an invitation to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant instead.

In response to these developments, Progressive Forces filed their petition on Wednesday, arguing that Adetshina’s participation could compromise the integrity of the Miss Universe brand.

Within 24 hours, the petition garnered over 1,000 signatures. The group expressed deep concern regarding Adetshina’s involvement, highlighting that her mother has been found guilty 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.