Johannesburg, South Africa – Mila Le Roux has made history as the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa, following a highly divisive competition that saw one finalist withdraw after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage.
In her acceptance speech, Le Roux expressed hope that her victory would inspire those who feel excluded from society to achieve their “wildest dreams, just like I am.” She also voiced her desire to support those who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”
The controversy surrounding the competition intensified last week when 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adesihma withdrew amid allegations that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman.
Adesihma, born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican origin, became the center of a social media storm that lasted several weeks. Her eligibility to represent South Africa was questioned by many, including a prominent cabinet minister.
Adesihma stated that she had been a victim of “black-on-black hate,” a term used to describe a particular form of xenophobia in South Africa, known as “afrophobia,” which disproportionately affects those from other African countries.
Le Roux, 28, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, relies on a cochlear implant to perceive sound. Her journey to the Miss South Africa crown included two years of speech therapy before she was able to speak her first words.
In her acceptance speech, the model and marketing manager 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.”
