Mia le Roux made history as the first deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa, following a competition marked by controversy, including the withdrawal of a finalist due to xenophobic backlash over her Nigerian heritage.

In her acceptance speech, Ms. Le Roux expressed hope that her victory would inspire others who feel marginalized to pursue their “wildest dreams,” just as she has. She emphasized her commitment to supporting those who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”

Last week, 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina withdrew from the competition after facing intense social media scrutiny and accusations that her mother had stolen the identity of a South African woman. Born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, Ms. Adetshina had been the target of a xenophobic backlash, with some questioning her right to represent the country. She described the attacks as “black-on-black hate,” a reflection of the “afrophobia” that exists in South Africa, particularly towards individuals from other African nations.

Ms. Le Roux, 28, who was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and uses a cochlear implant, shared that it took two years of speech therapy before she could speak her first words. After her win, the model and marketing manager declared, “I am a proudly South African deaf woman, and I know what it feels like to be excluded. I know now that I was put on this planet to break boundaries, and I did it tonight.”