First deaf Miss South Africa crowned after divided competition

Mia le Roux is the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa. The results were divided, as one of the finalists withdrew after being trolled about her Nigerian heritage.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Le Roux said she hoped her victory would help those who feel excluded from society to realise their “wildest dreams, just like me”.

She said she wanted to help people who were “financially excluded or disabled.”

Last week, 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from the competition after allegations emerged that her mother had stolen the identity of a South African woman.

Ms Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican descent.

She has been at the centre of a social media storm for several weeks, with many people, including a minister, questioning her right to represent the country.

She said she was a victim of “black-on-black hatred,” highlighting a specific form of xenophobia in South Africa known as “Afrophobia,” which targets people from other African countries.

Ms Le Roux, 28, was diagnosed with severe hearing loss at the age of one and has a cochlear implant to help her perceive sounds.

She said it took two years of speech therapy before she could say her first words.

After her win, the model and marketing executive said: “I am a proud deaf South African 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 that tonight.”