Miss World 2022 Australia: Kristen Wright wins at gala ceremony
Victorian biomedical science student Kristen Wright has been crowned Miss World Australia at a gala ceremony on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
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Kristen Wright of Victoria has been crowned Miss World Australia 2022.
Wright, 23, a biomedical science student, was awarded the national title in a crowning ceremony held at Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast on Friday night after a two-year pause in the beauty pageant due to the pandemic.
While studying biomedical science Wright specialises as a scuba diving instructor with over 36 certifications and was one of the youngest instructors to be certified in Victoria.
She was crowned by 2019 Miss World Australia Sarah Marschke.
“I’m feeling quite overwhelmed but I’m absolutely honoured to have this title and I hope to do Australia proud at the international competition,” Wright said.
She entered the contest during Victoria’s lengthy Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020.
“At the start I didn’t know or understand what it (Miss World) was truly about, so having the lockdowns was the biggest blessing for me because I truly was able to really create a meaningful platform from this Miss World context,” she said.
“Now I realise this contest is an opportunity for women to come together and create something meaningful and longstanding, and that’s priceless.”
Ruby Schofield, from NSW, was runner up, followed by Emma Healy of Queensland.
It follows a week of challenges contested by the 24 national finalists held on the Gold Coast.
Wright will now represent Australia at the Miss World pageant later this year.
The guest judging panel included Byron Baes star Jade Kevin Foster, singer and actor Alli Simpson and Real Housewives of Melbourne star Simone Elliott.
The contestants raised a total $389,000 for children's charity Variety throughout the competition.
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