Julius OkorieNigeria born model and Beauty Pageant contestant, Chidinma Adetshina, has been told to resist the temptation to allow discriminatory attacks against her in South Africa, dwarf dreams of taking her pageantry to greater heights.
Organisers of Miss Universe, who gave the charge while extending invitation to Adetshina, informed that her fatherland is waiting for her to continue her pageantry on a better and higher level.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“As a Nigerian by heritage, we would like to formally invite you to participate in the Miss Universe Nigerian 2024 pageant. This is an opportunity to represent your father’s native land on an international stage,” Miss Universe Nigeria said in a statement on Instagram.
Adetshina 23, was equally told that she will be guided in the proposed switch to Miss Universe Nigeria.
““We encourage you to consider this opportunity and take part in a competition that celebrates the strength, intelligence and diversity of Nigerian women. Should you wish to participate, all you need to do is respond to this invitation and we will be delighted to guide you through the next steps,” added Miss Director Guy Murray Bruce.
Adetshina, whose chances of winning the Miss South Africa Beauty Pageant was looking good after she made the last 11, before she withdrew, became the subject of discriminatory attacks and social media bullying over questions on her South African citizenship.
This was after the home affairs department announced that her mother may have committed “identity theft” to become a South African national.
As the row escalated, Adetshina announced her withdrawal from the Miss South Africa pageant “for the safety and wellbeing of my family.”
Adetshina was born and grew up in South Africa. Her father was Nigerian and her mother was a South African of Mozambican descent. Many South Africans, including a cabinet minister, questioned whether she was South African.
The 73rd Miss Universe Competition, in which the winner will compete represent Nigeria at the Global level will be held in November in Mexico.
Meanwhile South Africa has been removed as the “Country in Focus” at the 2024 Puebla International Literature Festival (PILF) due to its handling of the controversy surrounding the nationality of Chidimma Adetshina, a contestant in this year’s Miss South Africa pageant.
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The Puebla International Literature Festival (PILF), founded in 2024 by the Africa Center Mexico, is an annual event that celebrates literature and promotes cultural exchange across Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
Puebla International Literature Festival Cancels South Africa Invitation
The festival was set to feature South Africa as the “Country in Focus” for its maiden edition from October 4 to 6 in Puebla, Mexico, spotlighting the nation’s rich literary tradition. However the broad daylight discriminatory show against Chidinma has forced organisers to cancel the invitation extended to the former apartheid enclave
“We regret to announce the decision to rescind South Africa’s designation as the Country-in-Focus for this year’s festival, and to rescind the invitation of our South African guests,” the statement reads. “This decision has been made after careful consideration of recent developments that have deeply troubled the African community.” the Festival’s Director, Ikenna Okeh said.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
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