Mia le Roux’s recent crowning as Miss South Africa has sparked mixed reactions from both Nigerians and South Africans, as her groundbreaking win as the first deaf woman to hold the title is overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the competition. The divisive atmosphere arose after Chidimma Adetshina, a law student with Nigerian heritage, withdrew from the contest amid allegations and xenophobic backlash.

Le Roux, a 28-year-old model and marketing manager, was recognised for her perseverance and determination, having overcome profound hearing loss diagnosed at just one year old, and now uses a cochlear implant to help her perceive sound.

In her acceptance speech, she expressed hope that her victory would inspire those who feel marginalised to pursue their “wildest dreams” and emphasised her commitment to supporting those who are “financially excluded or differently abled.”
“I am a proudly South African deaf woman, and I know what it feels like to be excluded,” Le Roux said. “I know now that I was put on this planet to break boundaries, and I did it tonight.”

However, the joy of Le Roux’s historic win is clouded by the controversy that unfolded before the final. Just a week before the pageant’s conclusion, Chidimma Adetshina, a 23-year-old contestant born in South Africa to a Nigerian father and a Mozambican mother, withdrew from the competition. Her decision followed a social media storm that questioned her right to represent South Africa, with accusations against her mother of possibly stealing the identity of a South African woman further fueling the debate.

Adetshina decried the hostility she faced, labeling it as “black-on-black hate” and pointing to a specific form of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia,” which targets people from other African nations. The backlash included criticism from a cabinet minister, adding to the mounting pressure on Adetshina.

The outcome of the pageant has since ignited a firestorm on social media. Nigerian superstar Burna Boy posted a picture of Le Roux with the caption, “So after all that…” accompanied by laughing emojis, hinting at the irony of the situation. Another user drew a stark comparison between Le Roux and Adetshina, highlighting the contrast in how each was received: “Mia Le Roux AKA JC Le Roux, Miss SA: parents from French descent. Loved by South Africans. Chidimma: Born in South Africa from a Nigerian father. Xenophobic South Africans hate her, they say she is not South African. Xenophobic South Africans are an embarrassment to our country.”

As the debate rages on, Le Roux’s win remains a significant milestone in South Africa’s history, symbolising both progress and the ongoing challenges of inclusivity and national identity.

According to a report published on Friday, August 9, 2024 by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN) detailing the highest-grossing films at the box office between August 2 to August 8, The Betrayed finished in second place, making ₦14.7 million in its first week of release.

The Zulomoke Oyibo film follows a young woman going through a psychological journey under the thumb of a mysterious figure who suspects her husband of stealing millions from a crime syndicate.

The film, starring Uche Montana, Gabriel Afolayan, Adunni Ade, Ibrahim Suleiman, Jemima Osunde, Vine Olugu, and Stephanie Zibili, was the highest-grossing Nollywood film for the week.

The Hollywood film, Deadpool and Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds, finished top of the list with ₦127 million this past week. Its total gross in two weeks is ₦354.5 million.

Pastor Emmanuel Iren’s What About Us grossed ₦9.9 million, placing it in third place. Its total gross since its release on July 12 is about ₦87.5 million.

Despicable Me 4 finished fourth on the list. The American animated comedy film, produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination, and distributed by Universal, has grossed ₦74 million since its release on June 28. This past week, it grossed a total of ₦9.3 million.

Bad Boys: Ride or Die ranked fifth with a weekly gross of ₦7.5 million. The action comedy, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, has grossed a total of ₦455.5 million since its release.

Lakatabu grossed ₦7.2 million last week, leaving it in sixth place. Since its release, the Nollywood epic drama has grossed a total of ₦190.9 million.

Inside Out 2 followed right behind, taking seventh place, with a ₦6.3 million gross last week and a total gross of ₦93.3 million since its release on June 14.

Taking eighth place was Twisters, released on July 19. The action thriller has made a cumulative gross of ₦31 million since its release. Last week, it grossed ₦4.8 million.

Sitting in the ninth position was A Quiet Place: Day One. Since its premiere on June 28, it has grossed a total of ₦142 million. Its gross in the past week was ₦4.6 million.