Local beauty Laura Wagner-Meyer is back in the Miss SA race for the fourth time, carrying the hopes of thousands even beyond East London who are inspired by her mission to champion beauty in disability.
A fashion designer and model, Wagner-Meyer has been vying for the crown since 2021— driven by a hope to see disability better represented and celebrated. Born with a congenital neural tube defect that impacts her mobility, she has lived fearlessly, refusing to be defined or limited by it.
In 2024, Wagner-Meyer narrowly missed a top 30 spot, breaking hearts nationwide after capturing attention on social media. Though disappointed, she remained proud of how her journey helped challenge beauty norms and spotlight the power of disability in pageantry.
Wagner-Meyer believes Mia Le Roux’s historic 2024 win as the first deaf Miss SA marked a turning point for the pageant. She feels the time is now to push even further — for greater visibility of disabilities and diverse body types — as a true reflection of lasting change.
She added: “Mia started something powerful and her win is proof that the Miss SA platform is beginning to reflect the full spectrum of SA beauty.
“I think there is still a natural barrier to entry for someone like me. It would make a world of difference to see more visible and uniquely shaped bodies like mine, represented. That boundary still hasn’t truly been pushed.
“When you only ever see one body type consistently reflected by an organisation, it sends a message, whether intentional or not, about who is welcome and who isn’t. I know so many beautiful and talented people with disabilities who don’t even consider entering because they’ve never seen anyone who looks like them represented.
“This year, I’m entering the competition more focused, prepared and determined than I’ve ever been.
“The public knows me better now and I feel I can enter not just as an advocate but as a woman who is part of a movement bigger than herself.”
Miss SA Organisation CEO Simone Weil said the pageant welcomed Wagner-Meyer’s return to the competition, celebrating the growing diversity among entrants and the message of inclusion they bring.
Weil said the organisation was committed to creating an inclusive and supportive space for all women, and that Le Roux’s win had prompted structural changes. These included practical accommodations and greater awareness around accessibility needs, which Weil said reinforced the importance of ongoing education and transformation within the pageant.
Weil said: “The organisation hopes to continue evolving in ways that reflect the full spectrum of SA womanhood.”
Abidah Hersie from the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) said the council remained unwaveringly proud of Wagner-Meyer who is a valued champion of the NCPD Casual Day. The council believes that Wagner-Meyer’s physical disability will be the catalyst the competition and society needs, to begin thinking about how to make the world structurally accessible for people with disabilities.
Hersie said true inclusion required accessible venues, adaptive support, inclusive communication, and broader judging criteria.
Hersie said: “In a world where visibility shapes perception, Laura’s presence on such a prominent stage underscores the importance of diverse representation and affirms that beauty, talent and capability transcend physical ability.”
Rhodes University’s Prof Lorenzo Dalvit’s research on beauty and disability on social media highlighted the importance of visually mainstreaming disability to affirm that racialised, gendered and disabled bodies are not only normal but authentically beautiful.
Dalvit said: “Laura’s participation provides an opportunity to see how people react, particularly on social media. Fortunately, past experience shows Laura can handle criticism as well as bigotry.
“It is unfortunate that people with disabilities who acquire public visibility are almost compelled to perform an activist’s role as well but on the other hand we must remember that Laura is not just a model, she is also a fashion designer. She is someone who changes things not just in terms of representation but in terms of creations.
“Laura’s participation asserts very powerfully that disabled bodies are not just acceptable but can be beautiful.”
Wagner-Meyer’s mother, Dr Rolene Wagner, said she was incredibly proud of her daughter’s decision to re-enter Miss SA, describing her as courageous and full of life. Over the past year, she’s seen her daughter face both praise and prejudice with grace, continuing to spread a message of hope — even on international platforms.
“She’s everything I ever hoped she’d be, and more,” Wagner said, adding that parents of children with disabilities should never impose limits, but rather support their dreams.
