Crowned Miss South Africa 2024 Mia le Roux. Picture by Yolanda van der Stoep.
Back in 2015, when Mia Le Roux made it to
the top five of Miss Deaf South Africa 2015, it did not dawn on her and the
organisers of the pageant that she would later be crowned Miss South Africa
2024.
The pageant, Miss Deaf SA, currently known
as Miss, Mrs & Mr Deaf South Africa, promotes gifted Deaf and
hard-of-hearing women and men. Over the past 24 years, Miss Deaf SA has
continuously paved the way for hard-of-hearing and Deaf women. It has built
their confidence and made them to love and accept themselves despite their
disabilities.
Le Roux is among many Deaf women in the country who has benefited from Miss Deaf SA. She was previously crowned Miss Struisie (high school pageant), Miss Garden Route and Ultimate Wildcat. Thus, she was able to represent the Deaf community with pride and confidence during the Miss SA 2024 competition- making her the first Deaf woman to wear the crown.
Born
on 28 June 1995, Le Roux, a youth from Oudtshoorn in
the Western Cape was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and
has a cochlear implant to help her perceive sound.
Being crowned Miss South Africa 2024 over the weekend at
the Sun Bet Arena at Time Square, Menlyn, Tshwane, has not only made the Deaf
community proud, but the entire country.
When she made it to the top five, the then 19-year-old,
beauty queen had informed journalist, Tracey Ruff that society needs to give
the Deaf community a chance. Le Roux had said she wants all citizens of South
Africa to live in a country where all shall be deemed equal, irrespective of
their disability, race, gender, and beliefs.
Le
Roux said to Ruff:
As millions of South Africans continue to celebrate
Women’s Month, their eyes are fixated on Le Roux.
Janice Jonker, the CEO of Miss, Mrs and Mr
Deaf South Africa said she is very proud of Le Roux.
Jonker said:
An elated Jonker said, “I believe having
been in the top five for Miss Deaf South Africa 2015, gave her the opportunity
to grow and to meet other Deaf people and know their struggles. I believe her
participation in Miss Deaf South Africa at that time, made her to have a goal
to win Miss South Africa.”
Le
Roux is a daughter to Schalk and Liesel le Roux and she credits them for
teaching her resilience: “They have instilled within me a deep sense of ‘sticks
and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me’.”
Her
parents are blessed with Le Roux and her older brother, Schalk, who shares the
same name with their father.
Le
Roux said:
Miss SA 2024 Mia le Roux with her parents Schalk and Liesel and partner Luke Ten Oever. Picture by Yolanda van der Stoep.
Last night [11 August 2024], the
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Women Youth and Persons with
Disabilities in Parliament, Lindelwa Dunjwa, expressed a heartfelt word of
congratulations to Le Roux.
Dunjwa said Le Roux’s victory will remain as an
indelible symbol of hope and inspiration to the community of persons with
disabilities in South Africa. She said the victory will inevitably encourage
other young South Africans with disabilities to discover their gifts and
talents to pursue their aspirations without hesitation or intimidation from
those who are abled-bodied.
She said the
committee noted the challenges around Miss South Africa 2024, but it
appreciates that a right contestant triumphed and was crowned in the end and
became the first Deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.
Dunjwa said:
“As the committee we look forward to your advocacy and
the positive change you will inspire during your reign. Your journey encourages
everyone to pursue their dreams confidently and foster a more inclusive world
for all,” said Dunjwa.
Le
Roux attended Oudtshoorn Junior Primary School and completed her high school
studies at Oudtshoorn High School. She has a nutrition certificate from the
Sport Science Institute of South Africa as well as an exercise specialist
diploma from eta College. At the time of her crowning, she was working as a
marketing manager for a start-up company and studying for a Bachelor of
Commerce in Marketing part time at Unisa.
The
reigning Miss SA lists the qualities she believes women should possess in order
to make a difference as resilience, a gentle perseverance, courage and to
always be unfailingly kind without ever forgetting her roots.
Stephanie
Weil, CEO of the Miss South Africa Organisation extended her congratulations to
the new queen, saying: “Mia [Le Roux] embodies the Miss South Africa
Organisation’s ethos that if you can dream it, you can achieve it. She also
embraces and personifies the organisation’s four pillars - duty, championship,
empowerment and beauty, so I can think of no-one more fitting to wear the crown
and we can’t wait to see what she achieves during her reign.”
“Congratulations
too, to Nompumelelo as well as the other finalists who gave it their all and
made the final decision so difficult for the judges. We had such strong group
of women all vying for the crown this year, which is a testament to the
importance and value that the Miss South Africa title has come to stand for
throughout the country,” said Weil.
Le
Roux names her local female role models as former Miss South Africa title
holders Shudufhadzo Musida and Zozibini Tunzi (also Miss Universe) because they
dared to be different and did it with grace. Her international role model is
Bethany Hamilton who broke barriers in surfing after losing her arm during a
shark attack.
