Johannesburg,South Africa

Mia le Roux has been crowned as new Miss South Africa 2024 in a tightly contested pageant ceremony which was held at SunBet Arena,Menlyn in Tshwane on Saturday night.

She was crowned as the 66th Miss South Africa and she is the first person who is hearing impaired to win that competition since that pageantry began more than sixty years ago.

She took over the reigns of being Miss South Africa 2024 from an outgoing Miss South Africa 2023,Natasha Joubert.

During her speech,she requested everyone who is in position of power to include those excluded like her so that they can show their potentials and she promised to work tirelessly to amend broken bridges between two worlds of able and disable people.

"I am a proudly South African deaf woman and I know what it feels like to be excluded.But thanks to the Miss South Africa organisation,I have a foot in the world of the included and I want to build a bridge between those two worlds.As your Miss South Africa,I want to partner with the government,corporate SA,and anyone who is able to help,to help the excluded - from financially excluded to being differently able - to achieve their wildest dreams just like I am tonight.Thank you,"said Mia le Roux,Miss South Africa 2024.

Mia is 28-years-old,was born in Sasolburg,Free State and grew up in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape,and she is marketing manager,model and part-time student doing Marketing degree.

She has been living with her disability more than 27 years as she was diagnosed with hearing loss at the age of one.

She is going to represent South Africa in Miss Universe 2024 in Mexico and she will be the first person with such disability to be a part of that competition.

The judging panel for Miss South Africa 2024 comprised the likes of former Miss South Africa Jo-Ann Strauss,actress Leandie du Randt,Miss World Rolene Strauss,radio personality Lerato Kganyago and actress Thembi Seete.