The Miss South Africa 2024 pageant concluded with Mia le Roux, a model and marketing manager from Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, being crowned as the winner.

The event took place at the Sun Bet Arena, Time Square, in Tshwane on Saturday, August 10.

Le Roux, who is also a part-time BCom Marketing student, won the title after competing against nine other finalists. The finalists included Layla Zoubair, Lebohang Khoza, Nompumelelo Maduna, Onalenna Constantin, Ontshiametse Tlhopane, Palesa Lombard, Taahira Katz, Kirsten Khan, and Kebalepile Ramafoko.

The pageant, however, faced controversy. Chidimma Vanessa Adetshina, a Nigerian-Mozambican contestant, was forced to withdraw from the competition.

Adetshina, who was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, faced intense scrutiny and criticism over her nationality. Some questioned her right to represent South Africa because her parents were not South African.

Adetshina had been the subject of a social media storm and criticism from some people, including a cabinet minister, over her heritage. She described the situation as “black-on-black hate,” highlighting a form of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia,” which targets people from other African countries.

In contrast, Mia le Roux, a white South African, faced no such issues. Her victory has sparked a debate about the standards of what it means to be South African in beauty pageants.

Le Roux, who has been deaf since the age of one and uses a cochlear implant, made history as the first deaf woman to win Miss South Africa. In her acceptance speech, she said, “I am a proudly South African deaf 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 it tonight.”

Le Roux expressed hope that her win would inspire others who feel excluded from society to achieve their “wildest dreams.” She also mentioned wanting to support those who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”