South Africa’s Phumelela Mapukata won Mister Deaf World, while Miss Deaf South Africa Lethiwe Ntaka was crowned as the first runner-up!!!
Mbombela Mpumalanga – Another win for South Africa as a local young man took the top place and title of Mr Deaf World at an international pageant held in Nelspruit earlier this year.
Twenty contestants from 11 countries competed for the title of Mr and Miss Deaf World in Mpumulanga on 19 July – the first time the pageant has ever taken place on South African soil, and then the winner turned out to be South African too!
Phumelela Mapukata won the Mister Deaf World title, and Indian’s Vidisha took the prize for Miss Deaf World while Miss Deaf South Africa Lethiwe Ntaka was crowned as the first runner-up.
From growing up on a farm in Idutywa, Eastern Cape to being crowned Mr Deaf World, Mapukata said he never expected to walk away with the title.
“I never expected to win. My money was on either Ukraine or China, but they ended up as Mr Deaf Europe and Mr Deaf Asia respectively,” he said.
He also shares a message with the deaf community saying: “It doesn’t matter where you come from or what your circumstances are you can unexpectedly rise to the top like I did if you work towards your goals.”
“I want to be a role model for the kids and be someone others can look up during my reign as Mr Deaf World,’ he added.
Watch the video below: