Chidinma Adetshina responds to South African charges, saying, "I didn't steal anyone's identity."

Chidimma Adetshina, the freshly crowned Miss Universe Nigeria, has finally responded to the South African government's allegations of identity theft.

According to TalkTalk Nigeria, Chidimma received criticism in South Africa after announcing her Miss South Africa contender status.

The South African Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has disclosed that preliminary information reveals Chidimma's mother committed fraud and identity theft.

Chidimma was born in Soweto's Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital in 2001. Her father is of Igbo heritage from Nigeria, and her mother is a Mozambican who has become a naturalized South African citizen.

Following the allegations, she exited the pageant and accepted an invitation to compete in the Miss Universe Nigeria Pageant.

In an interview with Arise News on Friday, the 23-year-old denied stealing anyone's identity.

"I did not take someone's identity. I'm just waiting for the case and the overall situation to be resolved. Then, going forward, I'll know exactly what to say because I'm worried about saying something and then something else comes out the next day. I'm merely avoiding those two things that contradict each other.

"I really avoided the inquiries since it is a legal case and I don't know all of the details, but what I can say is that I wasn't running away from anything. I was just running because I knew I had a dream I wanted to pursue.

"I am not entirely aware of the situation. But I can confirm that I did not take anyone's identity."