South Africa’s representative for the Miss Universe pageant, Mia le Roux, has withdrawn from the competition just days before the grand finale in Mexico. The Miss South Africa organisation announced her decision, citing health issues as the reason for the sudden exit.
Mia le Roux, 28, made headlines in August when she became the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa. Her historic win was marked by both celebration and controversy, following the high-profile withdrawal of contestant Chidimma Adetshina, who faced online abuse over her Nigerian roots. Chidimma has since gone on to win the Miss Universe Nigeria title and is currently in Mexico for the Miss Universe finals.
Le Roux, who has been in Mexico for weeks preparing for the prestigious event, said in a statement that her health and well-being had to come first.
“Making this decision has been incredibly challenging, knowing the dreams and hopes that have been placed upon me,” she said. “However, I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to focus on my health and recovery so that I may continue to serve my country with full strength.”
While the nature of her health issue remains undisclosed, the Miss South Africa organisation expressed their unwavering support for Le Roux, emphasising her well-being as their “utmost priority.”
“Ms Le Roux has shown incredible courage and grace throughout this difficult period. Our hearts are with her as she takes the necessary steps toward recovery,” they added.
Her departure from the pageant marks a significant absence for South Africa at the 73rd Miss Universe competition, where Le Roux was one of 120 contenders for the global title.
In an interview last month, Le Roux had shared her excitement about the “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” to represent South Africa on the Miss Universe stage. Diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one, she overcame significant hurdles to reach this point, including two years of speech therapy before she spoke her first words. Her journey, aided by a cochlear implant, has been one of resilience and determination.
In her own words, she had hoped to showcase South Africa’s “beautiful diversity” on the world stage. While her withdrawal is a setback, her story continues to inspire many, and her focus now remains on regaining her strength.
