On Saturday, August 10, a day after Women’s Day, Mia le Roux made history when she became the first hearing-impaired woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.
At the event at the SunBet Arena at Times Square in Pretoria, Le Roux impressed the judges and the crowd when Bonang asked her the burning final question: “What are some of the changes you would bring to South Africa as a nation?”
The 28-year-old confidently answered: “We are leaving too many South Africans behind and I am here to teach the included how to be inclusive towards the excluded.” And that alone was enough to win the people’s hearts.
As the newly crowned Miss SA, there are some interesting facts about the beauty queen.
She was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of 1
Le Roux was only a year old when she was diagnosed with profound hearing loss. She could neither speak nor hear and her community donated funds to help her.
“As a deaf woman with a cochlear implant, I represent a community that often goes unheard. I am here to prove that, despite being differently abled, it has not affected me in terms of what I am capable of.
“My journey is a testament to the power of dreams and determination we all possess,” she said.
Sign language is her first language
While many children’s first language is their mother tongue, Le Roux’s is sign language.
It was the first language she learnt before she could speak English. Since South Africa recently approved sign language as the 12th official language, many citizens need to start learning it in order to communicate effectively with people who are hearing impaired.
“I have made it my mission to spread awareness and educate wherever I am able about the challenges faced by the deaf. We are not in need of sympathy; being deaf does not affect our intelligence and capability.
“We just need a little bit of help in terms of accessibility and inclusivity such as subtitles on TV shows, advertisements and sign interpreters at live shows.
“I aspire to eventually help provide cochlear implants to those who cannot afford it and give them the same gift my community has given me,“ she said.
She has three beauty pageant titles
Le Roux is no stranger to pageantry. She entered pageants in school and has won several titles, including Miss Struisie (high school pageant) and Miss Garden Route and made it to the top five in Miss Deaf South Africa.
She is a bookworm
Besides being a model and a marketing officer for several brands, Le Roux is a bookworm who loves being knowledgeable.
When she was in school, she received several awards for reading. Her hobby has followed her into adulthood. Her current read is “How Not To Die” by Dr Michael Greger. No matter how busy she is, she makes time to read.
She is a foodie
Like many South Africans, Le Roux is a foodie. Although her favourite meals are truffle and mushroom pasta, Thai chicken is her favourite dish to cook.
“I adore cooking and love preparing different meals, like Thai chicken curry made from scratch or a steak with rosemary butter, truffle-flavoured mushrooms, roasted butternut, baby spinach and rice.”
Le Roux will be the first hearing-impaired woman to participate in Miss Universe in Mexico later this year.
Win or not, she inspires not only deaf people but also those living with a disability to believe that nothing is impossible.