'I never thought someone like me could become Miss South Africa'

Mia le Roux is the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa.

In her acceptance speech, she said she hoped her victory would help those who felt excluded from society to achieve their “wildest dreams”.

A week before the finals, 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina pulled out of the competition following allegations that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman.

Ms Adetshina was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a mother of Mozambican origin.

She had been at the centre of a social media storm for several weeks, with many people, including a cabinet minister, questioning her right to represent the country.

Ms Le Roux spoke to the BBC’s Esther Kahumbi about winning the competition and the controversy around one of the finalists withdrawing.

22 August 2024