‘I did not steal anyone’s identity’, Miss Universe Nigeria addresses identity theft allegations

The newly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, has addressed the accusations of identity theft in South Africa.

Chidimma was born in 2001 at Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto, to an Igbo father, while reports suggest her mother is a Mozambican who became a naturalized South African citizen.

The controversy surrounding her nationality came to light during this year’s Miss South Africa pageant, leading to a wave of criticism from South Africans.

 

Also, allegations from South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs, which claimed that preliminary evidence pointed to possible fraud and identity theft by Chidimma’s mother led to Chidimma’s ultimate withdrawal from the competition.

In an interview with Arise TV which went viral on Saturday, the 23-year-old denied the accusations, stating, “I didn’t steal anyone’s identity.”

However, she refrained from providing further details, citing the ongoing investigation and her desire to avoid contradictions.

She said, “I did not steal anyone’s identity. Obviously I am still waiting on the conclusion of the whole case and matter, then moving forward, I will know exactly what to say.”

“Because I feel like now if I say something and something comes out tomorrow, it could be like but you said this then something else. I am just avoiding all those two things contradicting one another.”

On August 14, Chidimma accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria pageant, where she was recently crowned the winner.

Addressing her victory, she dismissed claims that she won out of pity, insisting that she underwent the same challenges as other contestants.

“A lot of people felt like it was a pity win and I do not think so. I feel like I really worked hard. Coming from the SA journey, we spent 10 weeks in camp,” she said.

“It might have been a slight difference but I feel like, if we have to look at the journey that we have all been through, I feel like I had the same experience that they did.”

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