Miss Universe finals: Kenya on the spot as South Africa withdraws

Controversy continued to reign on Africa’s beauty queens at the Miss Universe finals as the reigning Miss South Africa crown holder pulled out of the competition at the eleventh hour.

Mia le Roux, 28, who was representing South Africa withdrew from the grand finals are taking place in Mexico yesterday. The winner will be announced and crowned tomorrow November 16, 2024.

In August, the beauty made history as the first-ever deaf participants to win the Miss South Africa crown this after a much-publicised controversy that saw one of the South Africa finalists, Chidimma Adetshina, withdraw following online bullying over her Nigerian roots. Chidimma returned to Nigeria, contested for the Miss Universe Nigeria title and won and now is one of the top African girls aiming for at least the continental title in the Miss Universe finals.

Only hours into the grand ceremony, the Miss South Africa Organisation, which runs the Miss Universe South Africa pageant, in a statement cited health concerns as the reason Mia le Roux’s withdrawal.

“It is with deep regret that we share the news that Mia Le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024, has had to withdraw from the Miss Universe competition due to health concerns,” Miss South Africa Organisation said through a statement.

 “I am profoundly thankful for the unwavering support from South Africa during my time at Miss Universe. Making this decision has been incredibly challenging, knowing the dreams and hopes that have been placed upon me. However, I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to focus on my health and recovery so that I may continue to serve my country with full strength,” Mia Le Roux said.

 “Mia has shown incredible courage and grace throughout this difficult period. Her health and well-being are our utmost priority, and we stand by her side, dedicated to ensuring she regains her strength and returns to full health. Our hearts are with her as she takes the necessary steps toward recovery,” the Miss South Africa Organisation said.

The development will no doubt impact on the overall African performance with Kenya’s Irene Ng’endo having been on the highlight in the past week. Mid this week, the Miss Universe Kenyan crown holder put a spectacular show during the national costume and swimsuit preliminary phases picking advantage points to advance to the top 30.

In a competition with a record 130 participants, the preliminaries were offering the selection committee a chance to evaluate the participants and choose 25 of the 30 finalists. Too, four finalists were being selected regionally, representing Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Asia and Oceania. Now with South Africa out, Kenya’s beauty has the African crown to loose with her close competition posed by Zimbabwe’s finalist Sakhile Dube and the controversy haunted Chidimma Adetshina from Nigeria.

Kenya is in the competition after a four-year debacle and all eyes have been on the Kenyan queen since the reigning Miss Universe, Sheynnis Palacios from Nicaragua visited Kenya to witness her crowning. Stacy Michuki, the Miss Universe Kenya 2019 crown holder remains one of the most memorable beauty queens. Her wedding was held a week ago.

This year’s finals, 73rd Miss Universe, is one of the most anticipated in the pageant’s history and only the bravest, if not the fairest of them all will take the crown. Besides the preliminary elimination hits where participants showcase swimwear and national costumes, personal statements and in-depth interviews are part of the jury verdict as the competition hits homestretch.

Unlike previous editions, the countdown hits have had no gala runway show a move that aims at keeping the highlight on the contestants' national costume and swimwear presentations. The final spot in the group of 30 finalists will be decided through a public vote and at the end of the gala ceremony, one contestant will acquire the crown and the title of Miss Universe 2024, becoming an ambassador of beauty and goodwill for the year 2025. She will be crowned by the outgoing queen, Sheynnis Palacios. During her reign Palacios has used her Miss Universe 2023 platform to address various social causes, further cementing her legacy as an impactful role model.

It is a tight race with no clear favourite so far even as Magali Benejam (Argentina), Luana Cavalcante (Argentina), Magali Benejam

Brazil), Emilia Dides (Chile), Celinee Santos (Dominican Republic), María Fernanda Beltrán (Mexico), Tatiana Calmell (Peru) and Jennifer Colón (Puerto Rico) remain as the most talked about contestants. There is a strong presence from the United States (Alma Cooper) and Venezuela (Ileana Márquez), whose crown holders have traditionally been topped the winning slots.