04:33A beauty pageant in South Africa made history after the winner became the first deaf contestant to be crowned Miss South Africa.
28 year-old Mia le Roux, who was diagnosed with a hearing impediment at the age of one, explains the challenges she has faced during an interview in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The part-time marketing student won the prestigious contest on August 10 in Pretoria.
Le Roux described the being made to practice her speech from an early age to adapt to wider society.
"I've known what it means to work hard since I was two years old. I attended school every day, got home, worked to practice my speech and my listening. And then when I was five we moved to a small town within the Western Cape and I went to mainstream school. At first it was fine because when you and others are adults you are not yet able to formulate what is different. But as I grew up and got older, I could understand things a little bit more. I did notice I was different," she explained.
"I think everyone in life have battles that they have to overcome but when you keep focusing on those battles, it becomes overwhelming in your mind. It makes it more painful for you so you have to focus where you are strong but you also need to know who you are and know your own worth. It's not about what others say about you or what others believe," she added.
Le Roux explained that she hopes her victory will help inspire those in the community that feel different to reach for their goals.
"I believe the moment now with me winning the crown represents unity and hope for the community as well as for people who have felt excluded or different, I think it's a really strong statement and it shows that if you work hard, if you have a strong mind and if you believe in yourself you can achieve what you dream of, you can achieve your wildest dreams," she explained.
As a reward for winning the pageant, she received a furnished luxury apartment, a new car as well as one million Rands ($56,069, 50 295 Euros).
Le Roux will run in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 contest, which is expected to be held in Mexico City in November.
'Achieve your wildest dreams!' - Miss South Africa beauty pageant makes history crowning first deaf contestant
A beauty pageant in South Africa made history after the winner became the first deaf contestant to be crowned Miss South Africa.
28 year-old Mia le Roux, who was diagnosed with a hearing impediment at the age of one, explains the challenges she has faced during an interview in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The part-time marketing student won the prestigious contest on August 10 in Pretoria.
Le Roux described the being made to practice her speech from an early age to adapt to wider society.
"I've known what it means to work hard since I was two years old. I attended school every day, got home, worked to practice my speech and my listening. And then when I was five we moved to a small town within the Western Cape and I went to mainstream school. At first it was fine because when you and others are adults you are not yet able to formulate what is different. But as I grew up and got older, I could understand things a little bit more. I did notice I was different," she explained.
"I think everyone in life have battles that they have to overcome but when you keep focusing on those battles, it becomes overwhelming in your mind. It makes it more painful for you so you have to focus where you are strong but you also need to know who you are and know your own worth. It's not about what others say about you or what others believe," she added.
Le Roux explained that she hopes her victory will help inspire those in the community that feel different to reach for their goals.
"I believe the moment now with me winning the crown represents unity and hope for the community as well as for people who have felt excluded or different, I think it's a really strong statement and it shows that if you work hard, if you have a strong mind and if you believe in yourself you can achieve what you dream of, you can achieve your wildest dreams," she explained.
As a reward for winning the pageant, she received a furnished luxury apartment, a new car as well as one million Rands ($56,069, 50 295 Euros).
Le Roux will run in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 contest, which is expected to be held in Mexico City in November.
A beauty pageant in South Africa made history after the winner became the first deaf contestant to be crowned Miss South Africa.
28 year-old Mia le Roux, who was diagnosed with a hearing impediment at the age of one, explains the challenges she has faced during an interview in Johannesburg on Wednesday. The part-time marketing student won the prestigious contest on August 10 in Pretoria.
Le Roux described the being made to practice her speech from an early age to adapt to wider society.
"I've known what it means to work hard since I was two years old. I attended school every day, got home, worked to practice my speech and my listening. And then when I was five we moved to a small town within the Western Cape and I went to mainstream school. At first it was fine because when you and others are adults you are not yet able to formulate what is different. But as I grew up and got older, I could understand things a little bit more. I did notice I was different," she explained.
"I think everyone in life have battles that they have to overcome but when you keep focusing on those battles, it becomes overwhelming in your mind. It makes it more painful for you so you have to focus where you are strong but you also need to know who you are and know your own worth. It's not about what others say about you or what others believe," she added.
Le Roux explained that she hopes her victory will help inspire those in the community that feel different to reach for their goals.
"I believe the moment now with me winning the crown represents unity and hope for the community as well as for people who have felt excluded or different, I think it's a really strong statement and it shows that if you work hard, if you have a strong mind and if you believe in yourself you can achieve what you dream of, you can achieve your wildest dreams," she explained.
As a reward for winning the pageant, she received a furnished luxury apartment, a new car as well as one million Rands ($56,069, 50 295 Euros).
Le Roux will run in the upcoming Miss Universe 2024 contest, which is expected to be held in Mexico City in November.