Twenty-eight-year-old Mia Le Roux has been crowned Miss South Africa at a glamourous event held at the Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria.
Born in Sasolburg, Free State, and raised in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, Le Roux is a marketing manager, model, and part-time B Com Marketing student.
She made history as the first deaf woman to win the title, having been diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one. Her determination and resilience have inspired her to break barriers and make a positive impact on society.
“She is a marketing manager, model and part-time B Com Marketing student. She was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and her community rallied behind her to give her the gift of hearing; inspiring her desire to make a positive impact and break barriers. She describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful and kind,” the Miss South Africa website reads.
Ms. Le Roux, in her acceptance speech, expressed her commitment to inspiring and supporting those who feel marginalised or excluded from society, particularly individuals with disabilities or financial barriers.
Having overcome communication challenges herself, including two years of speech therapy to utter her first words after receiving a cochlear implant, Le Roux is determined to uplift and amplify the voices of those who face similar struggles.
Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, congratulated Le Roux on social media, expressing confidence that she will represent South Africa well at the Miss Universe competition.
The Miss South Africa pageant is described as a leadership platform that provides young women with coaching, networking, and life skills, shaping them into ambassadors for the country and champions of women’s rights.
The pageant, however, was overshadowed by controversy following the withdrawal of finalist Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina.
Adetshina, who was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, faced online harassment and bullying due to her Nigerian heritage, despite meeting all competition requirements.
The social media attacks and objections to her participation raised issues of inclusivity and acceptance within the competition. For the safety and well-being of herself and her family, Adetshina made the difficult decision to withdraw from the pageant, expressing gratitude for the support she received during her journey.