Mia le Roux was crowned Miss South Africa following a divisive competition which saw one finalist withdraw, after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage.
Ms Le Roux, the first deaf woman to receive such crown, said she hoped her victory would lift those who felt maligned from society to achieve their “wildest dreams, just like I am”, and help those who were “financially excluded or differently abled”.
Last week 23-year-old Nigerian law student, Chidimma Adetshina pulled out of the competition following allegations that her mother may have stolen the identity of a South African woman.
Ms Adetshina, whose mother is a Mozambican, was born in South Africa to a Nigerian father.
She had been at the centre of a social media storm for several weeks, with many, including a cabinet minister, questioning her right to represent the country.
She said she had been the victim of “black-on-black hate”, highlighting a particular strain of xenophobia in South Africa known as “afrophobia”, which targets those from other African countries.
Ms Le Roux, 28, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one and has a cochlear implant to help her perceive sound.
She said it had taken two years of speech therapy before she was able to say her first words.
After winning, the model and marketing manager said: “I am a proudly South African deaf woman and I know what it feels like to be excluded.
“I know now that I was put on this planet to break boundaries and I did it tonight.”