Miss South Africa Mia le Roux has revealed her health issues which forced her to withdraw from the 73rd Miss Universe pageant.
In a candid video shared on Instagram, Le Roux opened up about the health challenges she faced during the competition in Mexico.
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Miss South Africa Mia Le Roux Explains The Health Issues That Made Her Withdraw From Miss Universe
The 28-year-old explained that vertigo, a condition causing dizziness and balance issues, became unmanageable as the event progressed.
“A lot of you would have seen the video that I made about vertigo while I was in Mexico. Vertigo is a condition where it feels like you are dizzy and there is a sense of the world spinning around you,” she said.
Le Roux, who has profound hearing loss and relies on a cochlear implant, highlighted how vertigo often affects people with hearing impairments. She shared that while she was mentally prepared to compete, her physical health deteriorated rapidly.
“When you have these issues with vertigo and balance, you need to be physically strong in order to combat and fight it,” she explained.
Her condition worsened during the preliminary competition, where she repeatedly fell backstage and couldn’t stand unassisted. Despite seeking medical attention in Mexico City, she realised she could not safely participate.
Miss South Africa Mia Le Roux Explains The Health Issues [Image: @official_misssa/Instagram]“I had to very quickly realise and be at peace with the fact that this was not the path meant for me,” Le Roux admitted.
The decision to withdraw, she said, was heartbreaking but necessary.
“It was not easy as I was not doing this just for myself but for all of you, South Africa, and for every single person who thought they could never be on a platform like this.”
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Le Roux has since seen a specialist and reported significant improvement in her health.
She emphasised the importance of inclusivity in pageantry and hopes her experience will inspire change.
“It is not enough to just open doors; we need to have systems in place to foster inclusivity,” she said, reaffirming her commitment to serve as Miss South Africa.