Entertainment
Chidimma Adetshina agrees to compete in 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria
Chidimma Adetshina, the embattled Miss South Africa contestant, has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.
Chidinma was recently subject to controversies over her eligibility to participate in this year’s Miss South African beauty pageant.
The controversy surrounding her nationality rapidly gained traction on social media platforms last month after she qualified for the round of 16. Some X users — predominantly from South Africa — had called for her disqualification.
The South African ministry of home affairs also launched an investigation to determine the nationality of Chidimma.
Following the investigation, the model of Nigerian heritage pulled out from the final of the Miss South Africa pageant which was held on August 10.
The organisers of Miss Universe Nigeria would later invite Chidimma to participate in this year’s pageant.
On Wednesday, Chidimma revealed her decision to accept the invitation for the 2024 Miss Universe Nigeria pageant.
The 23-year-old model expressed excitement that she will be participating in what she described as “Africa’s most prestigious” pageant.
Chidimma also thanked the organisers for allowing her to take part in the pageant.
“With great excitement, I have decided to participate in the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 beauty pageant,” she said in social media post shared by Ben Murray-Bruce, the founder of Silverbird Group, the pageant organisers.
“Now, I understand the expectations and responsibilities that come with this title and I’m so excited to be back on this journey.
“I just want to say thank you so much for this opportunity and I’m looking forward to participating in Africa’s most prestigious beauty pageant, Miss Universe Nigeria.”
Chidimma was born in Soweto, South Africa. She is believed to be of Nigerian (dad) and Mozambican (mum) heritage.
Last week, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for South Africa alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Chidimma’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
Chidimma said her decision to withdraw from the country’s competition was for the “safety of my family and I”.
Entertainment
Bimpe Akintunde warns Nigerians against scammers impersonating her on WhatsApp
Bimpe Akintunde, the Nollywood actress, has raised an alarm over a fake WhatsApp account created in her name to scam unsuspecting individuals.
The film star took to her Instagram story to share screenshots of the impersonator, posing as her to solicit money from her followers.
Akintunde expressed her frustration and disappointment, cursing the scammer for attempting to profit from her hard work. She warned the public to be cautious of the impersonator on any media platform.
The actress urged her fans to help report the scammer’s WhatsApp and bank accounts.
She also prayed that God should keep such fraudulent individuals away from her and her loved ones.
“What a morning. Tell me how this country wants to be great, when a lot of people are struggling, working hard to build a name and brand, and boom, one person will take their pictures and name only to be defrauding people up and down,” she wrote.
“Who gave birth to such a child? Useless children, may God keep them away from us.
“Please disregard any message from anyone, either in your DM or WhatsApp, asking you to send money.
“Please, it not me. I do not own this above number. I would appreciate it if we could find a way to report both the WhatsApp and the Opay account.”
Entertainment
Davido advises black Americans not to relocate to Nigeria, says ‘the economy is in shambles’
Davido, the Afrobeats star, has advised black Americans against relocating to Nigeria, citing the country’s economic challenges.
In an appearance on The Big Homies House podcast, the singer shared his thoughts on the struggles bedeviling Nigeria, stating, “It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles”.
Davido also mentioned Nigeria’s struggles with bad leadership, a high exchange rate, and skyrocketing oil prices, which are negatively impacting the country.
“It is not cool back home. The economy is in shambles. I do my part, I am an ambassador. When I go home and I am filming, I am no going to show the bad parts,” he said.
“I am talking about the situation in the country. Now the exchange rate is messed up, a lot of stuffs are not going well.
“The economy is just not good enough. The oil price is too high. Imagine the country that produces oil, paying more for it than a country importing oil.”
Despite the challenges, Davido emphasised the entertainment industry’s positive impact on Africa’s global image.
“Regardless, entertainment is one of the thing that has made Africa look good. We do not have the best leader, that is a fact,” he said.
Entertainment
US actor Jussie Smollett’s conviction for staged attack overturned
American actor, Jussie Smollett’s conviction for fabricating a racist and homophobic hate crime in Chicago in 2019 was overturned Thursday on due process grounds.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Smollett, 42, should not have been charged again by prosecutors after a prior agreement saw over a dozen original charges dismissed.
It is the latest twist in Smollett’s legal saga, which began with his initial claim in January 2019 that he had been attacked on a Chicago street.
The gay African-American actor, then a cast member of the hit TV series “Empire,” said two masked men assaulted him late at night, shouting slurs and placing a noose around his neck.
Smollett staged the attack after receiving a legitimate piece of hate mail which he felt was not taken seriously by his employers, prosecutors said.
But those charges were suddenly dropped in March 2019, under an arrangement in which Smollett forfeited his $10,000 bond and agreed to do community service.
The dismissal was met with anger by some city officials, including then-mayor Rahm Emanuel, who argued $10,000 was only a fraction of the actual investigation costs.
A special prosecutor eventually took over the case and several charges were reinstated.
Smollett, who has always maintained his innocence, was found guilty in December 2021.
Though he was sentenced to 150 days in prison with 30 months on probation, he was released pending the outcome of his appeal.
He was also ordered to repay $120,106 to the Chicago Police to cover their investigation costs.
The case had initially sent shock waves through a deeply divided country still plagued by racial and sexual discrimination, and the actor had immediately received support from celebrities in political and cultural circles.
The Illinois Supreme Court ruling said that bringing the charges a second time after “the defendant has performed his part of the bargain” represented “a due process violation.”
“We therefore reverse (the) defendant’s conviction,” the ruling said.
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