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Chidimma Adetshina, a Miss South Africa pageant contestant, has decided to withdraw from the competition. This move follows a national controversy in South Africa regarding her Nigerian heritage and a subsequent government investigation.

Adetshina announced her decision to step back from the final scheduled for Saturday, just one day after the Home Affairs ministry alleged that her mother was involved in fraud and identity theft.

“After much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and me,” the 23-year-old law student shared on Instagram.

Since her selection as a finalist in July, Adetshina has faced severe xenophobic backlash on social media. Many, including some cabinet ministers, questioned her eligibility due to her Nigerian background.

In previous interviews with local media, Adetshina explained that she was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent.

The controversy prompted an investigation into her citizenship at the request of the pageant’s organizers.

On Wednesday, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber revealed that the investigation had found “prima facie indications” that Adetshina’s mother may have committed fraud by stealing the identity of a South African woman.

The ministry is seeking legal advice regarding the implications for Adetshina’s citizenship, noting that she was an infant at the time of the alleged fraud.

South Africa grants citizenship by birth to anyone born in the country after 1995 to a South African parent or permanent resident.

Adetshina’s involvement in the pageant has fueled anti-foreigner sentiments within the nation, which has a history of violent and sometimes fatal attacks on immigrants.

The debate surrounding her participation has drawn politicians, celebrities, and ordinary citizens alike. While many have defended her, others have argued for her disqualification.

In her withdrawal announcement, Chidimma expressed gratitude to those who “stood beside me right from the start of my Miss South Africa journey.”  “I am grateful for all the love and support I have been shown,” she added.