After Mia Le Roux was asked who her favourite music artist was, a storm of comments (and internet trolls) gathered. Considering that Mia is South Africa’s first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa, the question, nor its answer, could be simple. Now, Mia has leveraged her authenticity to add clarity to the conversation and put internet trolls in their place.
South Africa (07 May 2025) — The internet can be a very harsh place in which out-of-context snippets can spiral, go viral and unite all variants of trolls.
Recently, Miss South Africa Mia Le Roux got caught in the middle of a big online conversation, one that began when she was asked who her favourite music artist was at the Metro Awards.
It is a well-known fact that Mia is deaf. In fact, her winning the Miss South Africa title was monumental because of this fact—she is the first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa ever.
So, when her response was not merely an artist’s name and reportedly saw her share that she doesn’t have a “favourite South African artist” considering her hearing impairment, a big conversation unravelled.
Several trolls asked, insensitively, why she was at the awards in the first place in that case. Others filled up comment sections with far harsher sentiments.
To the camp who thinks you shouldn’t be at a celebration just because you can’t enjoy it the way other people do, we wonder: is one not allowed to celebrate victories simply because they are victories?
Ultimately, though, it was Mia who put the trolls in their place with her wonderful brand of authenticity and humility.
In her words:
“I want to take a moment to address the conversation happening online about my experience with music. This is, in fact, one of my biggest insecurities.
Within the Deaf community, everyone experiences music differently. Some perform entire songs in South African Sign Language (SASL). Others feel music through rhythm and vibration.
Some dance by counting beats. There are Deaf musicians and artists which I am in awe of, because I can imagine how much dedication it takes.
My own relationship with music is unique. I use cochlear implants, which help me perceive sound—but I have nothing to compare it to, as I’ll never truly know what someone without a device hears.
Growing up, music was always something I tried to connect with—especially because of my family. I remember my dad playing “Love Gets Old” by Wouter Kellerman.
I could see how it moved him. That memory stayed with me—not just because of the sound, but because of the emotion and meaning behind it. That’s what I connected to.
But to be honest—I often struggle with music. I can’t always hear lyrics. Some songs sound unclear to me. I’ve had moments where I’ve played music in the background just to feel less alone.
But that doesn’t mean I’ve always understood it fully. Even now, I can’t confidently identify genres, artists or instruments.
And because of that, I’ve never felt comfortable expressing music preferences—especially in a public setting.
At the Metro Awards when asked about my favourite artist or song, I didn’t want to give a superficial answer or name an artist I couldn’t fully appreciate in the way they deserve. I was trying to be respectful—not evasive.
My experience is my own, and it does not represent the entire Deaf community, as everyone is different.
I acknowledge the harm that can come when stories are shared without full context. I’m learning, too. And I believe in inclusion that’s rooted in truth, not performance.
To the Deaf community: I hear you. I see you. I respect the diversity within our community. And I will continue to grow.
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