In a moment of cultural pride and fashion excellence, Miss South Africa 2024, Mia Le Roux, unveiled her Miss Universe National Costume during Cape Town Fashion Week.
Originally scheduled for its debut at the Miss Universe 2024 prelims, the show-stopping piece was revealed in the presence of legendary artist Dr. Esther Mahlangu, whose iconic art work inspired the gown.
The gown was created using an approved art work print from Dr Esther Mahlangu. It was then crafted by the emerging designers and artisans from the AFI Atelier, under the mentorship of AFI Creative Director Gavin Rajah, for more than 150 hours, using more than 70 000 crystals. The piece exemplifies the spirit of cultural sustainability by nurturing the next generation of South African creatives.
Mia Le Roux, who met Dr Esther Mahlangu on the first day of Cape Town Fashion Week, expressed her connection to the gown.
“My national costume is a tribute to the diversity that defines my heritage. In my spirit, in my environment, and in the abundance of creativity that is being created and shared by South African artists, I resonate with the bold, colourful, and vibrant expressions that reflect our complexity.
Mia also took part in the AFI Masterclass during Cape Town Fashion Week, where she shared about the importance of resilience in the face of challenges.
“In my life, there were moments where I was at my lowest because you keep trying and fighting for your space, but doors are not opening. When I entered the Miss South Africa platform, they were so good in their pursuit of learning how to be inclusive—seeing how they could make things work for me. Just because you do things differently doesn’t mean you can’t do it well. We need to be open to people doing things differently and allow them to be the first to create new trends and set new moods."