Mia Le Roux is deaf; however, this didn’t stop her from winning the title of Miss South Africa 2024.
Despite her disability, she did her best and successfully became the first ever hard-of-hearing Miss South Africa titleholder on August 10, 2024, at the Sun Bet Arena in Tshwane.
Highlights
- Mia Le Roux was diagnosed with profound deafness at a young age.
- Miss South Africa 2024 is heavily inspired by American surfer Bethany Hamilton, who, despite losing her arm to a shark attack, bounced back in her career.
- Despite her hearing issues, Mia went on to make a career in the marketing field.
Additionally, Mia excelled academically and participated in various beauty pageants. She previously won titles such as Ultimate Wildcat, Miss Garden Route, and Miss Struisie.
Mia did all that despite having hearing issues. She overcame every hurdle that was placed before her, and after years of hardship, she is now crowned Miss South Africa.
To achieve her dreams, Mia opted for a cochlear implant for most of her life. Although this device doesn’t restore normal hearing, she did her best to move forward in her life.
Mia Le Roux Was Diagnosed With Profound Deafness When She Was Only 1-Year-Old
Mia Le Roux was born in 1996 in Sasolburg, Free State, and grew up in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape.
When she turned one, doctors found out she had severe hearing loss. She was diagnosed with profound deafness; thus, she couldn’t hear sounds quieter than 90 dB.
As a result, Mia has used a cochlear implant for most of her life. However, this didn’t make her life easier. The South African model still faced a hard time to socialize with others.
Despite these hurdles, Mia attended Oudtshoorn High School and later graduated as a nutrition and exercise expert.
Furthermore, Mia is a part-time BCom Marketing student. Regardless of her struggles with hearing loss, she worked as a marketing manager and part-time model.
Her disability only boosted her drive to do better, and she even has a passion for advocating.
Mia is focused on boosting inclusion in rural areas, knowing the special hurdles deaf people face there.
The 28– year-old model revealed that she is profoundly inspired by Bethany Hamilton.
She loves the way the American surfer bounced back in her career from a shark attack. With that Mia aims to “inspire and break barriers” as a deaf woman.
Now, apart from her hearing issues, Mia enjoys good health and tackles life head-on.
Her story shows her grit to make her mark in the world beating odds and lifting others as she goes.
Additional Information
- Mia Le Roux was raised by her father Schalk and Liesel Le Roux; they co-own a newspaper and a PostNet franchise in Oudtshoorn, South Africa.
- Le Roux is off-market; she has been dating her boyfriend, Luke Ten Oever, for three years now.
- She grew up alongside her older brother, who shares the same name as her father.
