South Africa’s representative in the Miss Universe 2024 pageant, Mia Le Roux, has withdrawn from the competition days before the grand finale.
“With deep regret, we share the news that Mia Le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024, has withdrawn from the Miss Universe competition due to health concerns,” Miss South Africa Organisation said in a statement.
The announcement came on the same evening as the competition’s preliminaries, where fans eagerly anticipated seeing Mia on stage. The grand finale is slated for Sunday but South Africa will now be absent from the contest.
Sharing her thoughts on the decision, Mia said, “I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering support from South Africa during my time at Miss Universe. Making this decision has been incredibly challenging, knowing the dreams and hopes that have been placed upon me.
“However, I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to focus on my health and recovery so that I may continue to serve my country with full strength.”
This is not Mia’s first time making headlines. The 28-year-old marketing manager is the first deaf woman to win the Miss South Africa crown, a victory that came after a fiercely contested competition.
The journey was not without controversy; one of the finalists, 23-year-old law student Chidimma Adetshina, withdrew after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage. Allegations surfaced claiming Chidimma’s mother might have stolen a South African woman’s identity.
Chidimma moved on to compete in Miss Universe Nigeria where she emerged victorious and representing Nigeria at Miss Universe 2024.
