Controversy reigns: inside the Miss South Africa pageant's most tumultuous year yet

IOL News

6 days ago

Miss SA 2024, Mia le Roux who was a part of the pageant's controversies after she withdrew from the Miss Universe beauty pageant, a few hours before the finale.
Image: Instagram
The most popular and prestigious pageant in Mzansi, Miss South Africa, has been the talk of the town for the past few months, and it has not been for the right reasons.
What was once regarded as a glamorous and riveting pageant has turned into a controversial pageant that has netizens raising eyebrows.
From last year's scandal involving Chidimma Adetshina to the resignation of prominent people in the organisation and the postponement of the pageant itself, it has been a bumpy road for the glamorous event.
Here are the top controversies of Miss SA that made headlines:
Chidimma Adetshina's tumultuous journey in the beauty pageant world
It all began with Nigeria's beauty queen, Chidimma Adetshina, whose citizenship was questioned by South Africans as they claimed online that her name is rather unfamiliar in South Africa.
Every week, Adetshina would be trending all over social media as she faced online backlash with people calling for her withdrawal from the beauty pageant.
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Petitions, interviews and online conversations were all about the 24-year-old whose identity was questioned countless times and the Department of Home Affairs even got involved.
It conducted an investigation and found prima facie evidence that her mother, Anabella Rungo, committed identity theft and fraud in the year that Adetshina was born, 2001.
Just a few days before the finale, Adetshina announced that she was withdrawing from Miss SA due to the backlash and for the safety of her and her family.
But her journey in the beauty pageant industry did not end there because soon after her withdrawal, the Miss Universe Nigeria organisation released a statement saying that they are inviting Adetshina to compete in their pageant.
This turn of events stunned many as they did not anticipate Adetshina taking part in another beauty pageant.
After the Miss SA finale show, the beauty queen took to Instagram to announce that she is accepting the invitation to participate in Nigeria.
Adetshina rose against all odds as she won the crown of Miss Universe Nigeria and represented her home country at the globally acclaimed Miss Universe.
The controversial beauty queen even made history for Nigeria as she reached the top two, making it the first time for the African country to reach that far in the competition since 2001.
Mia le Roux withdrew from Miss Universe 2025
The entire nation in South Africa was excited and rallied behind the first-ever hearing-impaired beauty queen in the history of beauty pageants.
Her participation in the industry was seen as inspirational and one of its kind; the excitement of having a beauty queen like Le Roux transformed a lot of people's perceptions about pageants.
It also shifted how differently-abled people in our communities are viewed. Le Roux's impact showed that one's dream, no matter how far-fetched it may seem, is attainable.
Le Roux showcased her journey, from the preparations to go to Mexico to the behind-the-scenes of what is happening in the glamorous Miss Universe competition.
However, things took a turn when the Miss Universe organisation revealed that Le Roux had withdrawn from the competition, citing health reasons.
A few days after the announcement, Le Roux came forward and revealed that she withdrew because she experienced vertigo symptoms, which took a physical strain on her and prompted her to bow out of the pageant, just a few hours before the finale.
Werner Wessels left the Miss SA organisation
In January, Werner Wessels shocked the nation after he announced his departure from the Miss SA organisation.
Wessels took to Instagram as he shared a statement which confirmed that he is leaving the organisation and stepping down from his role as the creative director.
His departure marked the end of a remarkable chapter since he played a pivotal role in guiding several South African queens to victory on the global stage.
While his departure was a jaw-dropping announcement, Wessels later on joined the Miss Supranational organisation.
The announcement of Wessels' new venture was announced by the president of the Miss Supranational organisation, Gerhard Parzutka von Lipsinski.
Wessels was appointed the brand development consultant effective immediately.
Miss South Africa organisation not participating in the 2025 Miss Supranational beauty pageant
A few months after Werner left the organisation, Miss SA announced that it would not be participating in the Miss Supranational pageant for 2025.
The announcement came after fans kept asking if either Le Roux or the Miss SA first runner-up, Nompumelelo Maduna, would represent Mzansi in Poland.
In May, the organisation revealed that, based on a mutual decision, it would not take part in the global pageant, and the license for Miss Supranational was not renewed.
Stephanie Weil stepped down as CEO
While many were flabbergasted over the past events of what was taking place in the organisation, an announcement about someone leaving the organisation again followed, and this time it was the CEO.
Miss SA shared a statement that an agreement about Weil leaving the organisation was reached.
However, she will still continue to help the new team/organisers transition into their new roles.
Many former beauty queens paid tribute to Weil on social media for her work in the organisation for all these years and the platform she gave them to help make their dreams come true.
Miss SA organisation postponing the annual pageant
For many South Africans or beauty pageant lovers, this was the nail in the coffin. What was deemed as an annual and celebrated pageant got postponed.
Usually the Miss SA pageant took place from early on in the year in May until August. This time period was exciting for pageant enthusiasts as they would see the journey behind one becoming a beauty queen.
However, in July, the organisation revealed that the highly anticipated and glitzy pageant will no longer be taking place in August as it has been pushed to a later date in the year.
Netizens were left disappointed, but they expressed on social media that they saw the delay coming, while others shared that they do not think that there will be a Miss SA pageant this year.