Mia Le Roux Becomes First Deaf Miss South Africa, Sparking Diverse Reactions
South Africa has crowned Mia Le Roux, a 28-year-old model and marketing manager, as Miss South Africa 2024. Le Roux is the first deaf woman to win the title. Her victory comes amid controversy, including the withdrawal of Nigerian-South African contestant Chidimma Adetshina, who faced online harassment related to her heritage. In her acceptance speech, Le Roux expressed hope that her win would inspire others who feel marginalized. Adetshina’s exit also reignited discussions about xenophobia and “afrophobia” in South Africa.
Who is Mia Le Roux?
Mia Le Roux hails from the Western Cape province and was born in Sasolburg, Free State, before growing up in Oudtshoorn. At 28, she balances her roles as a marketing manager, model, and part-time B.Com Marketing student. Diagnosed with severe hearing loss at one year old, Le Roux underwent two years of speech therapy before speaking her first words. She credits her community for supporting her and providing her with the means to hear, which motivated her to overcome barriers and make a positive impact. Le Roux describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful, and kind. Following her win, she stated, “I am a proudly South African deaf woman, and I know what it feels like to be excluded. I now know that I was put on this planet to break boundaries, and I did that tonight.”
**Public Reactions to Her Victory**
Mia Le Roux’s win as Miss South Africa has generated a range of responses on social media. While many have celebrated her achievement, others have voiced dissatisfaction and accused South Africa of harboring anti-black sentiments. Grammy Award-winning artist Burna Boy reacted with a social media post that included a laughing emoji and the phrase, “So after all.” Former Nigerian presidential aide Reno Omokri also commented, “I sincerely hope those South Africans who didn’t consider Chidinma to be their representative feel represented now.”
