Proudly SA deaf woman’ Mia le Roux’s speech inspires Mzansi
MIA LE ROUX: ‘I AM A PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN DEAF WOMAN’
The Oudtshoorn beauty queen, Mia le Roux trended on X on Saturday evening after her moving speech at the Miss SA finale.
She began her speech by stating: “I’m a proudly South African deaf woman. I know what it’s like to be excluded. But thanks to the Miss SA organisation, I have a foot in the world of the included and I want to build a bridge between those two worlds.”
“As your Miss South Africa, I want to partner with the government, corporate South Africa and anyone to help, to help the excluded from financial exclusion. To being differently abled, to achieve their wildest dreams, just like I am tonight,” she concluded.
Le Roux, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one will reportedly be the first contestant to take part at the Miss Universe 2024 with the disability. She also made history as the first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa.
The 28-year-old model and marketing student beat Nompumelelo Maduna and Onalenna Constantin.SOUTH AFRICANS RESPOND: ‘YOU HAVE RESTORED HOPE’
@brainzbhungane: “To all kids and people out there living with a disability. Here’s proof that you are not defined by your shortcomings but by your courage and strength. Live to dream and dream to conquer…Mia well done Queen.”
@neke1632: “Making history!! May her reign truly ‘teach the included how to be inclusive’.”
@Tammy78855145: “There’s nothing more I support than persons with disability bringing light and showing it can be done. I will show this to my brother to encourage him too. Congratulations.”
@Phindii11: “Oh Mia, you have restored the hope of every disabled child sitting at home thinking that they are undeserving of such opportunities. You have rewrote the entire concept of inclusion!! My Miss SA.”
@Maps1118: “This is a game changer and believe you me she is going to wow miss universe. Tell your daughter that she is beautiful, and she must be proud of who she is…much love.”WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEW MISS SA
OK Mzansi reveals that the new Miss SA, Mia le Roux first entered a Miss Struisie, a high school pageant and won. She also won Miss Garden Route and was placed fifth in the Miss Deaf South Africa pageant.
She is marketing manager and is studying a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing at Unisa.
Le Roux has two loving parents, Liesel le Roux and Schalk le Roux and an older brother named Schalk le Roux.
IOL reports that she was born in Sasolburg in the Free State and was raised in Oudtshoorn.