Burna Boy laughs as Mia Le Roux wins Miss South Africa 2024

Burna Boy, the Afrofusion singer, has reacted to the outcome of the controversial Miss South Africa 2024 pageant.

Mia Le Roux, the Free State-born model, was crowned Miss South Africa on Saturday night during a glittering ceremony at the Sun Bet Arena at Times Square in Menlyn, Pretoria.

The 28-year-old defeated nine other finalists — Layla Zoubair, Lebohang Khoza, Nompumelelo Maduna, Onalenna Constantin, Ontshiametse Tlhopane, Palesa Lombard, Taahira Katz, Kirsten Khan, and Kebalepile Ramafoko — to claim the coveted crown.

Kirsten Khan and Kebalepile Ramafoko secured their spots in the top 10 after Chidimma Adetshina pulled out from the competition.

Le Roux also becomes the first model with a hearing impairment to be crowned Miss SA.

But in a post via X on Sunday, the self-proclaimed ‘African Giant’ mocked Le Roux’s victory.

The singer shared a photo of Le Roux with the caption, “So after all that… (laugh emoji)”. He, however, did not provide sufficient context to the tweet.

😂😂So After ALL that.. ……. 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/reNfDe9N12

— Burna Boy (@burnaboy) August 11, 2024

The post followed the controversy on the nationality of Chidimma. The embattled Miss South Africa contestant was subject to controversies over her eligibility to participate in the country’s beauty pageant.

The 23-year-old was born in Soweto, South Africa. She is believed to be of Nigerian (dad) and Mozambican (mum) heritage.

The controversy surrounding her nationality rapidly gained traction on social media platforms last month after she qualified for the round of 16.

Some X users — predominantly from South Africa — had called for her disqualification.

The South African ministry of home affairs would later launch an investigation to determine the nationality of Chidimma.

On Wednesday, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) for South Africa alleged that preliminary evidence suggests Chidimma’s mother may have committed fraud and identity theft — prompting her withdrawal from the pageant.

Chidimma said her decision to withdraw from the competition was for the “safety of my family and I”.

The development attracted criticism towards South Africa. The Puebla International Literature Festival (PILF) also removed South Africa as the “country in focus” at this year’s event.

Tyla, the South African singer, said she was totally against her countrypeople’s treatment of Adetshina who was recently invited to participate in Miss Universe Nigeria 2024.

WHO IS MIA LE ROUX

Le Roux was born in Sasolburg, Free State in 1996. She was raised in Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. At a young age, she was diagnosed with profound hearing loss, a condition that has significantly impacted her life.

Aside from being a model, she is also a businesswoman. She works as a marketing manager and models part-time. She is also studying Marketing at the University of South Africa.

She prides herself a resilient, dedicated, graceful, and kind woman. She will now represent her country at Miss Universe 2024.