Miss SA 2024: A victory for the 'unheard' community, says foundation

Le Roux made history on Saturday by becoming the first-ever hearing-impaired woman to be crowned Miss South Africa, taking the title of Miss SA 2024.

The glamorous ceremony took place at the Sun Bet Arena in Tshwane.

She was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one. 

The foundation's spokesperson, Fatima Cele, said as a deaf woman with a cochlear implant, Le Roux represents a community that often goes unheard.

"For us, it’s really a historic win, and it is giving a beacon of hope to every deaf girl and deaf boy that the possibilities are real. The only difference that a deaf person has is that they do not have a voice, but they have the ability to reach their dreams.

"The win for Miss Le Roux just goes out and shows that if organisations push the agenda of inclusion of persons living with disabilities, it is possible.” 

During her question-and-answer session, Le Roux said many South Africans are left behind, and she will use her platform to teach the included how to be inclusive towards the excluded.

Cele said Le Roux’s win will force organisations to start thinking out of the box.

"What I think her win has done is to show that the possibility of inclusion is there. Organisations need to start accepting that the disability community has the ability to be involved in such platforms. 

"I hope her reign will give the deaf community the beacon of hope, to assure deaf girls that their dreams are valid.”