Mia le Roux, who was crowned Miss South Africa on Saturday night, has made history as the first hearing-impaired winner in the competition’s 66-year history.
Le Roux impressed judges with her answer to the final question: what changes are some of the changes you would bring to South Africa as a nation?
“I want to help create an inclusive society,” she said.
The model and marketing manager from Oudtshoorn said too many South Africans are left behind when it comes to creating unity.
Le Roux said she would also work toward teaching those who are “othered” in society to reach their full potential, to embody how South Africans “are at their strongest when they are united”.
This is not Le Roux’s first stint at chasing pageant crowns. She earned titles at Ultimate Wildcat, Miss Garden Route and Miss Struise. She came short of achieving the Miss Deaf SA title, with a top 5 placement.
In second place was Nompumelelo Maduna and in third was Onalenna Constantin.
The result came after the controversy over the citizenship of applicant Chidimma Adetshina. Adetshina, who was born and lived in South Africa, had two foreign parents. The law requires at least one to be a South African citizen. Adetshina withdrew from the pageant when it was alleged that her mother had stolen another woman’s identity in order to register her daughter’s birth.
[Photo: X/GovernmentZA]