Mia le Roux has been crowned Miss South Africa 2024, capturing the hearts of the nation with her grace, intelligence, and passion for social causes. Le Roux, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, has made history by becoming the first hearing-impaired winner in the competition's 66-year history. University of Witwatersrand Centre for deaf studies' Claudine Storbeck says le Roux is raising awareness for those with hearing impairments.
“It's brought to the forefront just how big of a population of hard of hearing and deaf people there are and that they are not treated equally in our society”. Western Cape Director for Deaf SA, Jabaar Cassiem Mohamed said it was heartwarming to see a person living with a disability enter the pageant. “I could not believe that a deaf person was entered into the competition and also amazed that she won.
It’s quite an amazing achievement and I’m quite very proud that South Africa sign language just becoming official. “There are a lot of changes coming and the country is becoming more and more inclusive. So, I’m very, very happy for Mia that she has won the title of Miss South Africa,” he said.
A post shared by M I A L E R O U X (@mialerouxx) On her crowning le Roux said; “Today, it is my turn to be your community, to be a voice for those who, like me, have experienced the challenges of being different and feeling excluded. “I am here to serve as your representative, to champion the causes that matter to.