A Miss South Africa beauty pageant, 28-year-old Mia le Roux has made history as the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.
The competition, which took place at the Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria, was marred by controversy and intense social media scrutiny, particularly following the withdrawal of Nigerian-born finalist, Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina.
Mia le Roux, a model and marketing manager from the Free State, emerged victorious after a tough competition that saw her beat nine other contestants.
Her win is not only significant for her personal achievements but also as a moment of triumph for individuals with disabilities, as she has become a beacon of hope for those who often feel sidelined by society.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. le Roux expressed her hope that her victory would serve as an inspiration to others who feel excluded from society.
“I know what it feels like to be excluded,” she said, reflecting on her own experiences with hearing loss.
Diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, Mia underwent a cochlear implant surgery to assist with sound perception.
It took her two years of speech therapy before she could speak her first words. Despite these challenges, she persevered, and today she stands as a testament to resilience and determination.
The road to the crown was not without its challenges, particularly for one of the other contestants, 23-year-old Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina.
The law student, who was born in Soweto to a Nigerian father and a South African mother of Mozambican descent, was forced to withdraw from the competition after a series of online attacks targeted her Nigerian heritage.
Despite being born in South Africa and meeting all the competition’s requirements, Chidimma’s participation sparked heated debate and controversy.
The attacks on Chidimma highlighted deeper issues within South African society, particularly the strain of xenophobia known as “Afrophobia,” which is directed against people from other African countries.
Many social media users, including a South African cabinet minister, questioned her right to represent South Africa in the pageant, despite her South African citizenship.
In the weeks leading up to her withdrawal, Chidimma found herself at the center of a social media storm.
The situation reached a boiling point when South Africa’s Home Affairs department released preliminary findings suggesting that her mother might have committed fraud and identity theft in registering her birth.
Although Chidimma maintained that she was born in Soweto and raised in Cape Town, the controversy proved too much to bear.
In a heartfelt statement posted on her Instagram page, Chidimma announced her decision to withdraw from the competition, citing concerns for her safety and the well-being of her family.
“Being part of the Miss South Africa 2024 competition has been an amazing journey,” she wrote. “However, after much careful consideration, I have made the difficult decision to withdraw myself from the competition for the safety and wellbeing of my family and I.”
Her withdrawal from the competition was met with mixed reactions. Some supported her decision, expressing their disappointment at the hostility she faced.
Others, however, saw her exit as a victory for those who questioned her South African identity.
Grammy Award-winning singer Burna Boy and former Nigerian presidential aide Reno Omokri were among those who commented on the situation, with Burna Boy posting a cryptic “So afta all” on his social media account.
While Chidimma’s withdrawal cast a shadow over the competition, Mia le Roux’s victory brought a sense of triumph and hope.
In her acceptance speech, Mia expressed her desire to use her platform to support those who face financial barriers or have disabilities.
She emphasised her commitment to breaking down barriers and creating opportunities for others, much like the community that rallied around her during her struggles with hearing loss.
