By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Chidinma Adetshina, Miss Universe Nigeria and first runner-up at Miss Universe 2024, has ignited a wave of outrage on social media after being spotted in South Africa.
The beauty queen’s visit comes after she withdrew from the Miss South Africa 2024 competition to represent Nigeria instead, leading many to believe she would be denied entry into the country.
South Africans expressed their disbelief at her presence in the country, with some questioning the effectiveness of the South African Home Affairs department in enforcing immigration laws.
One social media user remarked, “How did she get inside the country without documents? Home Affairs is enabling foreign nationals to disregard the rule of law.”
Another added, “Chidinma is back in our country! At this point, I won’t even be surprised to hear that Bushiri is somewhere in Johannesburg as we speak,” implying a broader issue with immigration enforcement.
Despite the outrage, it is important to note that only Adetshina’s mother has been banned from entering the country, meaning that the beauty queen retains the right to visit South Africa like any other foreign tourist.
Observers suggest that the reactions from some South Africans may reflect deeper xenophobic sentiments rather than legitimate concern over immigration policies.