Mia Le Roux was crowned the winner of the prestigious Miss South Africa 2024 beauty pageant, surpassing nine other primarily black models in a tough competition on Saturday.
Making history as the first deaf Miss South Africa, Mia Le Roux hails from a Dutch settler background, known as the Boers, in South Africa, representing the minority white population.
As the grand prize, she will receive $53,371 (R1 million) in cash, a luxurious Mercedes Benz car, and a fully furnished apartment.
Currently an undergraduate,Le Roux plans to focus her charitable efforts on individuals with disabilities.
Le Roux’s victory came after Nigerian-linked model Chidimma Vanessa Onwe Adetshina decided to withdraw from the pageant amid controversies regarding her nationality.
Adetshina, with Nigerian and Mozambican roots, faced scrutiny over her eligibility for the competition in July, ultimately leading to her exit before the final round.
She recently withdrew from the competition despite being a Top 11 Finalist, after the South African Department of Home Affairs alleged that her mother may have committed fraud and identity theft.
