Five Things Mia le Roux taught us that we shouldn’t forget in a hurry

History-maker and Miss South Africa Mia le Roux has taught us so much in such a short space of time that we shouldn’t forget in a hurry.

Honestly, it would be a crime – deserving of a life sentence I believe – to not point out some nuggets of wisdom Mia le Roux has given and taught over the time she came into the limelight.

South Africa got a chance in 2024 to get front row seats to learn from the life of a beautiful soul in the form of Mia le Roux. It’s like a destiny encounter that defines the trajectory of the next ten years or the rest of your life. This lovely lady warmed the hearts of many un various ways, but here are five unforgettable things she taught us that make her a true inspiration.

THE ONLY THING THAT CAN STOP YOU IN LIFE IS YOU

Mia le Roux was born deaf, and hears partially through the use of cochlear implants. However, the stunning beauty defied all odds and eventually made history by becoming the first differently abled individual to wear the crown of Miss SA on 10 August 2024, inspiring both the young and old. Being born deaf was a hurdle she didn’t allow to stop her from soaring – with even the sky not being the limit for her.

Another inspiring fact about Le Roux is that she is very passionate about education. She holds numerous qualifications, including an exercise specialist diploma from Eta College and a certificate in nutrition from the Sport Science Institute of South Africa. Also, she was studying at UNISA part time doing a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and working as a marketing manager when she became Miss SA.

So if you are fully able-bodied or even have any form of disability, there’s no excuse. Go after that dream, pursue that passion – the only thing that can stop you is you.

EMBRACE AND CELEBRATE WHO YOU ARE

Mia Le Roux is a true gem – and I added the word true because being fake has become so common these days. But one can see how valuable and precious she is from the value she has added and impact she has made – and still making – in the lives of those around her.

We live in a world where many desire to be others instead of themselves. There are different mirrors that the world wants people to look at themselves through that are not a true depiction of each individual. The operative word here being, individual. Looking at life through the right lens helps you become who you truly are instead of a copy or counterfeit.

Le Roux exudes confidence and believes in herself. In fact, I doubt she would have won the title of Miss SA if she didn’t. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will. It all starts with you. Bruce Lee said: “Always be yourself – express yourself, have faith in yourself. Do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it.”

Mia le Roux has taught us so much that we shouldn’t forget in a hurry. Image: Facebook Mia le Roux
THE IMPORTANCE OF SELF-CARE
Mia le Roux also went on to teach many the importance of self-care in a world where most sacrifice it for things that are worth far less than their own lives. When she made the choice to withdraw from Miss Universe due to health concerns, she chose life instead of forcing herself to remain in a situation that would cause her more harm than good. It was amazing to see the huge support she received from fellow beauty pageant contestants, judges and South Africa as a whole.

And most importantly, she was praised by her own community as the organisation advocating for disability rights and inclusion, Disabled People South Africa (DPSA), expressed support for her decision and commended her for “putting her wellbeing above all else.”

COURAGE, COURAGE, COURAGE
It took courage to decide to be part of such a huge pageant. In her profile on the Miss SA website, Le Roux revealed that a woman who wants to make a difference should be resilient, courageous, have perseverance and be kind without forgetting her roots. The 29-year-old also mentioned that her parents taught her resilience, and with such great beliefs instilled in her, it’s no wonder she has taken over the world.

Also, Le Roux opening up about her health struggles is courageous in itself. It takes courage to be vulnerable. This is one lesson our society especially needs to learn to help fight the mental health crisis plaguing us. Admitting you need help or are struggling shows strength not weakness, so we should take Le Roux’s example and speak up instead of suffering in silence.

UNFAILING KINDNESS
With kindness being a quality Le Roux believes one should have, she has expressed hers in various forms, one of them being through her movement. She’s using the Mia le Roux Movement to advocate for the estimated 4 million deaf citizens in South Africa.

Le Roux will be working with various organisations and institutions in different industries so that they can start implementing small changes that the beauty queen believes will make a huge difference to differently abled people. DPSA said “her tireless advocacy has inspired a nation, challenged stereotypes and paved the way for future generations.”

Even if you choose one of the five lessons mentioned, it will change your life for the better. And who knows, you might also end up being an inspiration to those around you by the positive changes you make. Let’s start a movement!