South Africa’s Miss Universe Hopeful Withdraws Due to Health Concerns
In a shocking turn of events, Mia le Roux, the groundbreaking deaf beauty queen set to represent South Africa at the Miss Universe finals in Mexico, has made the difficult decision to pull out of the competition. Organizers cited health concerns as the reason behind her withdrawal.
The 28-year-old made history as the first-ever deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa in August, amidst a controversial competition marred by trolling and withdrawals. Despite weeks of preparation in Mexico for the prestigious beauty contest, Ms. Le Roux’s health ultimately took precedence.
The Miss South Africa organization released a statement emphasizing that Ms. Le Roux’s well-being is their top priority and vowed to support her until she fully recovers. This last-minute setback means that South Africa will not have a representative at the 73rd Miss Universe pageant, where Ms. Le Roux was poised to compete alongside 120 other beauty queens.
Expressing gratitude for the opportunity to prioritize her health, Ms. Le Roux stated, “Making this decision has been incredibly challenging, knowing the dreams and hopes that have been placed upon me. 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 exact nature of her health issue remains undisclosed, the Miss South Africa organization commended Ms. Le Roux for her courage and grace during this trying period. They expressed solidarity with her as she embarks on the path to recovery.
Previously, Ms. Le Roux had expressed excitement about representing South Africa on the global Miss Universe stage, viewing it as a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for my voice to be heard” and a chance to showcase her country’s “beautiful diversity”. Diagnosed with profound hearing loss at a young age, she has a cochlear implant to aid her hearing and has overcome significant challenges to reach where she is today.
In an earlier interview, she shared her journey of perseverance, highlighting the two years of speech therapy it took for her to utter her first words. Despite the setback, Ms. Le Roux’s resilience and determination remain unwavering as she focuses on her health and recovery. — BBC
