Mia le Roux made history as the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa after a contentious competition that saw one finalist, Chidimma Adetshina, withdraw due to backlash over her Nigerian heritage.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Le Roux expressed hope that her victory would inspire others who feel marginalized to pursue their “wildest dreams, just as I am.”
She emphasized her desire to support those who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”
Adetshina, a 23-year-old law student, withdrew from the competition following allegations that her mother had stolen the identity of a South African woman.
Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Adetshina had faced intense scrutiny and criticism on social media, including from a cabinet minister, questioning her eligibility to represent the country.
Adetshina described her experience as “black-on-black hate,” drawing attention to a specific form of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia,” which targets individuals from other African nations.
Ms. Le Roux, 28, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and uses a cochlear implant, reflected on her journey: “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.”
