Former Miss Universe Nigeria 2024, Chidimma Adetshina, appeared before the Cape Town Regional Court on Monday, July 20, 2026, to challenge a deportation order issued by South Africa's Department of Home Affairs. Her legal team filed a formal application contesting the legality of the deportation process, arguing that the steps taken by the department were unlawful.
Arrest and Legal Battle
Adetshina was arrested in June 2026 after Home Affairs alleged she entered South Africa illegally. The court appearance marks the latest chapter in a prolonged dispute over her right to remain in the country. Her lawyers are expected to submit an affidavit detailing her efforts to regularise her immigration status.
The case has drawn significant attention, given Adetshina's high profile as a beauty queen and her controversial journey from Miss South Africa contestant to Miss Universe Nigeria.
Background: From Miss SA to Miss Universe Nigeria
Born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina first gained public attention as a contestant in the Miss South Africa 2024 pageant. She withdrew from the competition after South African authorities launched an investigation into her mother's identity documents. In August 2024, the Department of Home Affairs stated that her mother may have been involved in identity theft.
Beyond the legal scrutiny, Adetshina faced a torrent of social media abuse linked to her Nigerian heritage, despite being born in South Africa and meeting the pageant's eligibility criteria. Following her withdrawal, she accepted an invitation to compete in Nigeria's Miss Universe qualifier, where she won the title. She went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss Universe 2024 global competition, finishing as first runner-up and being named Miss Universe Africa and Oceania.
Legal Arguments and Implications
Adetshina's legal challenge centres on whether the deportation process initiated by Home Affairs was conducted within the bounds of the law. The affidavit she is expected to submit will document the steps she has taken to formalise her immigration status. The outcome of the proceedings could have significant implications for her continued presence in South Africa, the country where she was born and raised.
According to Legit.ng, Adetshina has previously clapped back at critics urging her to leave South Africa amid the deportation case. She clarified that her past remarks about not returning to South Africa were misunderstood, stressing she only meant that at that particular time. Responding to online pressure, she told critics to stop frustrating her life and insisted she would not be forced to leave.
