She said she’d never return… now Chidimma Adetshina is back in South Africa
Former Miss South Africa finalist and reigning Miss Universe Nigeria
Former Miss South Africa finalist and reigning Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, is back in the headlines — and back in South Africa — despite a controversial immigration saga that once saw her stripped of her South African documents.
The beauty queen, who famously vowed never to return to Mzansi after her citizenship scandal, has been spotted in the country once again. While there’s no official confirmation from authorities, civic movement Operation Dudula claims to have verified her return.
“Fellow South Africans, we have confirmed that Adetshina, a Nigerian national accused of using a stolen South African identity, is still living freely in Cape Town – despite claims from Home Affairs SA that she was deported,” the group wrote on social media.
They further allege that Adetshina’s continued presence violates South African immigration laws, calling on Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber to explain how she re-entered the country.
Social media users have joined in the outrage, tagging the minister directly:
How did Chidimma Adetshina get back in the country@Leon_Schreib ?
— Ashley Serakalala (@ashseraka) August 10, 2025
Rift with Miss Universe Nigeria
Adetshina’s return coincides with a public fallout with the Miss Universe Nigeria organisers. The reigning queen, who was also crowned Miss Universe runner-up in 2024, has unfollowed the pageant on Instagram and confirmed she will not attend the grand finale later this month to crown her successor.
@amusestan Chidimma Adetshina @chichivanessa, Miss Universe @missuniverse 2024’s first runner-up, has announced she will not attend the Miss Universe Nigeria 2025 finale to crown her successor, suggesting a tense relationshiop with the organization after unfollowing its official page. Chidimma was recently excluded from the organization’s ‘Global Stars’ party. Fellow beauty queen Nyekachi Douglas @nyeka_d, who was denied entry into the Miss Universe Nigeria 2025, voiced her support for Chidimma, criticizing the treatment of former titleholders. Chidimma’s absence at the finale indicates potential issues within the organization. Her silence raises questions about whether Miss Universe Nigeria organization will address this situation and reconcile with its former queens. #MissUniverse #MissUniverseNigeria #ChidimmaAdetshina #MissUniverseNigeria#MissUniverseNigeria2025 #NyekachiDouglas #MissUniverse202#victoriakjaer #MissUniverse2025 #missworld #MissMundo #missworld2019 #MissUniverso2025 #missworldnigeria #1strunnerup #MissUniverseNigeria2024 #MissUniverseAfrica #continentalqueens #africaday #nigeria #MissWorldAfrica #MissWorldAfrica2019 #MissSouthAfrica #MissSA #MissSouthAfrica2024 #Africa #AfricanQueen #BlackGirlMagic #AfricaUnity #1strunnerup #MissUniverso #MissUniverso2024 #MissUniverseThailand #HoaHauHoanVu #MissUniverseThailand #MissUniversePhilippines #MissUniverseVietnam #MissCosmoPhilippines #hoahau #มิสเวิลด์ #มงฟ้ามาเเน่ #แมส #นางงามโลก #MissUniverseLatina #MULER #certamendebelleza #certamen #reinadebelleza #reinas #reina #reinasdebelleza #bellezaconpropósito #MundoMiss #MissMonde #drama #scandal #pageanttalk #pageanttalkph #beautyqueen #pageantryph #beautypageant #pageantry #pageant #pageatnews #นางงาม #parati #viral #virale #amusestan ♬ original sound – amusestan
When asked by a follower if she’d be present, Adetshina replied simply:
“Unfortunately, I won’t be there.”
The snub follows her vocal support of fellow Nigerian beauty queen Nyekachi Douglas, who claims she was forced to withdraw from the competition over new eligibility rules. In an Instagram Live with Miss Supranational Nigeria, Paula Ezendu, Adetshina pledged:
“I STAND WITH YOU!! You deserve every opportunity to compete… TELL YOUR STORY!”
From Miss SA Dreams to International Crowns
It’s been exactly one year since Adetshina’s Miss South Africa journey came to a dramatic halt. In 2024, Home Affairs revealed that her mother, Anabela Runga, had allegedly committed identity theft to register her as a South African citizen. Both women had their South African IDs and passports revoked.
Although Adetshina herself was not implicated in wrongdoing, the scandal prompted her withdrawal from the competition.
One year later, she reflected on Instagram:
“Last year this day, my dreams were shattered right in front of my eyes… I’m grateful for this journey.”
After leaving South Africa, she entered the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant — and won. Representing Nigeria at Miss Universe 2024, she placed first runner-up globally and also claimed the titles of Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
“I came, I saw, and I shook the universe,” she wrote after the competition. “I’m filled with immense gratitude for Nigeria and Africa for believing in me and helping me reclaim my dreams.”
View this post on Instagram
Immigration Questions Remain
While her pageant career has flourished internationally, questions about her legal status in South Africa remain unresolved.
Home Affairs previously confirmed their investigation found her mother was not a South African citizen and that her birth was registered using another woman’s stolen identity. Adetshina is now believed to hold Nigerian identity and travel documents, but Operation Dudula’s claims suggest she may have re-entered the country under unclear circumstances.
For now, Chidimma Adetshina continues to live between triumph and controversy — crowned abroad, but questioned at home.
