On Wednesday, October 30, the Progressive Forces of South Africa issued a statement requesting that Miss Universe Nigeria, Chidimma Adetshina, refrain from participation in the global beauty competition.
After the Department of Home Affairs revoked Adetshina’s South African identity and travel documents, the group launched a petition with over 600 signatures to prevent her from participating in the Miss Universe pageant.
Home Affairs canceled Adetshina and her family’s identity and travel documents on Tuesday, October 29, due to their failure to respond to a Monday deadline to explain why they should keep their South African documents.
In the statement by the group, they wrote, “As Progressive Forces of South Africa, we are writing this letter on behalf of everyone who stands for justice to plead with you, Miss Universe as an organisation to reconsider the contestant, Miss Nigeria Universe and if possible, to cancel her entry.
“Miss Universe is a known brand of class, integrity and fair competition … We would hate to see the pageant losing its good image due to a contestant whose mother has been found guilty of stealing the identity of an innocent victim,” they wrote.
This is the second time South Africans have launched a petition to prevent Adetshina from competing in a beauty competition.
The initial petition drove Adetshina, who is now facing potential fraud charges, to withdraw from the Miss SA contest, resulting in her invitation to compete in the Miss Universe competition, where she emerged victorious and won.
Adetshina is currently on her worldwide Miss Universe journey, representing Nigeria.