The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has released preliminary findings from an ongoing investigation into the nationality of Chidinma Adetshina, a contestant in the 2024 Miss South Africa pageant. The beauty queen, who has Nigerian roots, found herself at the center of controversy regarding her eligibility to participate in the competition.

Chidinma’s parents are reported to have met in Johannesburg in the late 1990s before eventually settling in Pimville. However, doubts about her citizenship began circulating on social media in July, shortly after she advanced to the round of 16 in the pageant.

In response to the growing controversy, South African Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber issued a statement on Monday, confirming that the department had launched an investigation into Chidinma’s citizenship. This move came after the Miss South Africa organizers formally requested clarification on her eligibility.

On Wednesday, the DHA escalated the situation by alleging that Chidinma’s mother might have been involved in fraud and identity theft. The department suggested that the person registered as her mother in Home Affairs records could have committed these offenses.

The DHA’s statement further indicated that Chidinma herself could not have been involved in the alleged fraudulent activities, as they reportedly occurred in 2021 when she was still an infant. The department also highlighted the case of an innocent South African mother who may have been victimized by the identity theft, preventing her from registering her own child.

As the investigation continues, the fate of Chidinma Adetshina’s participation in the Miss South Africa pageant remains uncertain, with the DHA promising to release further findings as they become available.