This created a new record that attracted the attention of the nation and the whole wide world when 28-years Mia le Roux a deaf lady from South Africa was elected Miss South Africa. Her victory is a victory for the people who have a disability in society, especially in the beauty pageant which is most of the time closed for disabled people. But the triumph is not without its controversies; issues to do with diversity, body size, and attractiveness, and the relevancy of beauty pageants in the contemporary world.
A Triumph of Determination
It has been a delightful follow to the path that was paved for Mia le Roux to the achievement of the crown. Raised without hearing, she encountered a host of problems when growing up in a community where people with impairments are considered outcasts. All the same, she graduated at the top of her class, and while following her career as a model she continued to defy the odds that had been stacked against her. The fact that she is willing to do her best to get into a field that is closely associated with hearing ability to a rather large extent makes her stand erect.
During the competition, Mia le Roux focused on the issues of the deaf people calling for their inclusion in everyone’s daily lives. Such a speech was appreciated by the audience and judges and many people liked her, making her one of the favorites.
A Controversial Victory
Although Mia le Roux’s victory can be regarded as the victory of tolerance, there are controversies traceable in the context of that success. This is the case because critics tend to claim that beauty pageants are inherently prejudiced and perpetuate a particular aesthetic paradigm. They ponder if such competitions can be fully considered as being ‘for all,’ even when some of the entrants come from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Another element of bias that some of the critics have pointed out is that was selected out of a wave of people simply because it would look good, and progressive to do so. These criticisms have elicited a much more comprehensive discussion on its humanity in the 21st century and whether beauty pageants have any right to exist in the manner that they still do.
Promoting a Step Forward or Missing Another Opportunity?
For many people, Mia le Roux’s win means a lot toward comprehension of society’s further development for tolerant and accepting individuals of any kind, particularly in terms of looks. Her victory is iconoclastic of the conventional notion of beauty and joyous to millions of people who have a disability out there. It is a message that defines beauty as the image that has to be accepted by anyone despite the disabled abilities.
Yet, the debate surrounding her victory tells us that the challenges of realizing the BIPOC, or people of color particularly black women, beauty remain a challenge in not only the beauty industry but also in other aspects of society. It would seem that Mia le Roux’s win is a positive thing, and yet it stresses the mere shallow change of attitudes towards beauty, inclusion, and representation.
Looking Ahead
Newly crowned Miss South Africa will be able to go further in her advocacy of the deaf and pursue change to the norms of society. Her reign is likely to be one of the most closely monitored in the contest’s history, especially given that she is thrust into the vagaries of the title alongside the responsibility of advocating for inclusiveness.
Finally, it is about being crowned a beauty queen it is also an iconic win that has put into discussion the future of media and other platforms that display different types of images. Whether it will lead to lasting change remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: has become remarkable, and her experience will be a lesson to many other generations of people.
