It’s not over yet for Miss Chidimma Adetshina, the pageant hopeful who was forced to withdraw from Miss South Africa due to a nationality dispute. She has now accepted an invitation to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria.

Ms. Adetshina shared the news on her social media platform in a video that has been trending across various media worldwide. “I’m looking forward to participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant,” the 23-year-old announced in a video posted to her Instagram account. Within seconds, her followers began commenting and celebrating her resilience, applauding her for not giving up on her dreams despite the challenges she faced.

Earlier this year, Ms. Adetshina contested in Miss South Africa but withdrew after facing what some described as xenophobic backlash, with others viewing it as a defense of national identity. Despite being a South African citizen, her eligibility was questioned because her father is Nigerian and her mother has Mozambican roots. The Home Affairs department, acting on behalf of the Miss South Africa organizers, investigated her and suggested that Ms. Adetshina’s mother may have committed “identity fraud” to obtain South African nationality.

Faced with mounting pressure, Ms. Adetshina made the “difficult decision” to leave the competition last Thursday for the safety and well-being of her family, just days before the main event. However, Miss Universe Nigeria quickly extended an invitation for her to compete, stating that her “journey in the world of pageantry is far from over.” They added that she would have the opportunity to “represent her father’s native land on the international stage.”

It remains unclear whether Ms. Adetshina holds Nigerian nationality, which could become a topic of discussion during her Miss Universe Nigeria journey. The winner of Miss Universe Nigeria will represent the country at the prestigious Miss Universe competition, and Ms. Adetshina is already emerging as a favorite to win the title, judging by the buzz on social media.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Home Affairs department continues its investigation, with the possibility of pressing criminal charges and assessing the legal implications of the alleged fraudulent activity on Adetshina’s citizenship status. The Miss South Africa competition concluded last Saturday, with Mia le Roux crowned as the winner. Should Ms. Adetshina win Miss Universe Nigeria, she will go head-to-head with Miss Le Roux at Miss Universe in November, raising questions about the consequences if she were to triumph over her South African counterpart.

The situation has sparked outcry from celebrities and politicians across Africa, who have criticized the South African government’s actions in handling the matter.