28-year-old Mia Le Roux has made history as the first hearing-impaired winner of the title of Miss South Africa.
The Sasolburg native was crowned Miss South Africa 2024 on Saturday night at the Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria and will represent South Africa at Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico on 16 November 2024.
Le Roux, raised in Oudtshoorn in Western Cape, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at age one and wears a cochlear implant to help her perceive sound.
Le Roux commented on winning: “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.”
The new Miss SA who holds a nutrition certificate from the Sport Science Institute of South Africa and had won some beauty titles including Miss Struisie, Miss Garden Route, and Ultimate Wildcat before running for Miss South Africa 2024.
She was also listed among the top 5 contestants in Miss Deaf South Africa and works as a marketing manager and is a part-time BCom Marketing student at the University of South Africa.
In addition to getting the ‘Mowana’ crown which is made up of over 800 stones comprising diamonds, gemstones, and cubic zirconia, Le Roux will receive a cash prize of $53,371 (R1 million), a Mercedes Benz and a furnished luxury apartment.
