OPINION: Mia le Roux is the first Miss SA to embody inclusivity

First-ever differently-abled Miss SA Mia le Roux is the first titleholder to embody inclusivity in the beauty pageant industry.

The 73rd Miss Universe pageant will take place in Mexico City in Mexico on Saturday, 16 November - without Miss South Africa. Image: supplied

Mia le Roux made history on Saturday 10 August when she became the first-ever differently-abled Miss SA, opening a big door for inclusivity in beauty pageants.

MIA LE ROUX IS THE FIRST-EVER DIFFERENTLY-ABLED MISS SA

Outgoing Miss SA (2023) Natasha Joubert passed down her crown to Mia le Roux at the end of the Miss SA finale held at the SunBet Arena, Times Square in Pretoria. This marked an era of change and inclusivity as Mia made history as the first woman, who is differently-abled that was crowned Miss SA.

Mia was diagnosed with hearing loss at the tender age of one. she was blessed with a cochlear implant by her community when she was just two years old. She explained that this was lifechanging and allowed her to hear, in her acceptance speech.

“As a little girl I never would have thought that someone like me could become Miss South Africa. It is extremely powerful what this could mean to other little girls – that even if you have something that makes you different, you still can achieve your dreams with determination and hard work,” she said in her acceptance speech.

“At the tender age of two, I was blessed by my community with the gift of a cochlear implant. Family, friends and strangers rallied to raise funds for this operation – a life-changing opportunity that allowed me to hear. It was also the start of a long journey to listen to sound and connect with the world through speech, a journey that also has taught me to never give up,” she continued.

“It took two years of speech therapy and continued repetition of words before I looked up to the sky one day and said my first four words: ‘Kyk daar, wit wolke – look there, white clouds,” she added.

Take a look at five things to know about Mia here.

MIA LE ROUX REPRESENTS CHANGE IN BEAUTY INDUSTRY

Mia’s win is a win for all women who felt they did not previously fit beauty pageant criteria. The Miss SA Organisation started paving the way for change and inclusivity over the last few years. In 2019, transgender women were allowed to compete in the pageant.

In May 2023, the Miss SA Organisation announced that women who are married, are mothers or have tattoos are allowed to compete at the pageant.

“This year we have pushed more boundaries than ever before and we are delighted to welcome all women who are ready to step onto our leadership platform and be the next ambassador for South Africa,” said Miss SA CEO Stephanie Weil.

“We, as women, are so many things; we can be business owners, leaders, innovators,
influencers, mothers, daughters, philanthropists, role models, ambassadors and queens all
at the same time. Showcasing the multi-diverse nature of all of this will be at the core of the
competition,” she continued.

“This is a game changer for South African women, and it’s a bonus for us as an organisation, as it means we have a much larger pool of women eligible to enter,” she added.

While inclusivity was there before Mia, she is the first woman to win the pageant that did not necessary meet the previously deemed standards of being Miss SA. Therefore, her win is a win for all the women who never thought they could be pageant titleholders as well.

So, Mia marks the first-real change in the pageant industry.