Mia le Roux has made history as the first deaf woman crowned Miss South Africa after a contentious competition that saw one finalist withdraw due to online harassment regarding her Nigerian heritage.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. le Roux expressed her hope that her victory would inspire others who feel marginalized to pursue their “wildest dreams, just like I am.” She emphasized her desire to support individuals who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”
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The competition faced turmoil last week when 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina stepped down amid allegations that her mother had stolen the identity of a South African woman. Ms. Adetshina, born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, became the focus of a social media backlash, with many questioning her eligibility to represent the country, including a cabinet minister.
Ms. Adetshina described her experience as “black-on-black hate,” pointing to a specific form of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia,” which targets individuals from other African nations.
Mia le Roux, 28, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and relies on a cochlear implant to perceive sound. It took her two years of speech therapy before she could speak her first words.
After her win, the model and marketing manager stated, “I am a proudly South African deaf woman, and I know what it feels like to be excluded. I know now that I was put on this planet to break boundaries, and I did it tonight.”
