The spotlight once again falls on former Miss Universe Nigeria and former Miss South Africa finalist Chidimma Adetshina as she prepares to return to court on Monday in a legal battle that could shape her future.
After a brief appearance in the Cape Town Regional Court on Thursday, Adetshina now faces an anxious wait before her challenge against deportation proceedings resumes.
The beauty queen is fighting to remain in South Africa after she was arrested in June when authorities alleged she was living in the country without lawful immigration status.
Although cameras were not allowed inside the courtroom, images and videos of Adetshina leaving court quickly spread across social media, drawing fresh scrutiny and fierce public debate.
As the footage circulated online, critics flooded social media with harsh comments, questioning her decision to contest the deportation process.
Despite the growing criticism, Adetshina projected quiet resilience.
Hours after leaving court, she shared a photograph of herself on her Instagram Stories, where supporters rallied behind her with messages of encouragement and hope.
When one follower admitted they were heartbroken by the ordeal she is facing, Adetshina responded with a brief but faith-filled message: “God is there.”
Her legal troubles are rooted in a controversy that first erupted during her Miss South Africa campaign in 2024, when questions were raised about her family’s immigration documents.
The Department of Home Affairs previously said it had uncovered prima facie evidence suggesting that Adetshina’s mother, Anabela Rungo, may have fraudulently obtained South African citizenship through identity theft in 2001.
Rungo was arrested in February 2025 on charges linked to alleged violations of the Immigration Act and the Identification Act before being released on R10,000 bail under house arrest.
The controversy forced Adetshina to withdraw from the Miss South Africa pageant, but she rebuilt her pageant career by winning the Miss Universe Nigeria crown and later finishing as first runner-up at the Miss Universe competition.
Now, with Monday’s court appearance looming, Adetshina’s future in South Africa remains uncertain as the closely watched legal battle enters another critical chapter.
