Sunshine Coast beauty queen Jessica Lane crowned Miss Earth Australia

A 21-year-old model, with dreams of saving the planet from fast fashion, has been crowned Miss Earth Australia for both her beauty and brains.

Jessica Lane has been crowned Miss Earth Australia. Picture - contributed.

A 21-year-old runway and sustainable fashion model, with dreams of saving the planet from fast fashion, has been crowned Miss Earth Australia for both her beauty and brains.

Jessica Lane, 21, of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, was crowned Miss Earth Australia over the weekend.

Miss Lane, Queensland’s first ever winner at the event, said she was incredibly excited for the win and felt as though she’d been living in a dreamlike state since being crowned on Sunday.

“I still can’t believe this past week was real,” she said.

“Being crowned Miss Earth Australia is a dream come true. Since I was a child, I have found my home up a tree or in the sea. I still seek solace and comfort being in nature, finding my reset from the busy world.

“Having the opportunity to use my voice and platform to inspire environmental change is all I’ve ever dreamt of. I’ve loved this magnificent earth and all its creatures for as long as I can remember, and I’m beyond grateful and humbled to represent my beautiful country on the international stage.

Jessica Lane, from the Sunshine Coast, has won a national beauty pageant. Picture – contributed.

“The health of our home is declining, and growing up surrounded by biodiversity and an ever digitalised world has equipped me with not only the passion to demand change, but the tools to action it.”

Established 20 years ago, Miss Earth Australia is a beauty pageant founded on advocating for sustainable environmental change.

It has a key focus on inner qualities such as substance, intelligence, kindness, and diversity.

“It’s so much more than how you talk, look and walk,” Miss Lane said.

“It’s all about making an environmental difference and having a passion for creating change.”

Competing against 13 other young Australian women – Miss Lane performed an original song in a talent segment, strutted in her swimsuit, presented an environmental speech, donned an evening gown on stage, took part in an off stage interview with the judging panel, and showcased her natural beauty and confidence in a no makeup segment.

Jessica Lane wearing Budgie Smugglers for the beauty pageant. Picture – contributed.

The fashion model graduated high school at Siena Catholic College, is studying journalism at USC, and is a cadet at Win News Queensland.

She has dreams of working as an environmental journalist and model. She’s been modelling for more than a year now.

“I’m six foot tall and everyone always said I should try modelling, it didn’t seem to be my thing,” Miss Lane said.

“My passion is storytelling for sustainability. I grew up in a family of authors and writers and believe the power of words has the strength to inspire millions all over the world.

“Through social media and journalism I’m hoping to make an impact.”

Jessica Lane has a dream to stop fast fashion. Picture – contributed.

In particular Miss Lane is advocating to lessen the impacts fast fashion has on the environment.

“Fast fashion is one of our world’s biggest CO2 emitters,” she said.

“It’s so deeply unnecessary and is created through sheer laziness. More than 85 per cent of fast fashion ends up in landfill.

“I’m trying to promote beauty with a cause. You can still be beautiful and confident in a sustainable manner.”

As a part of her advocacy Miss Lane has participated in a tree planting day on the Sunshine Coast, worked as a model on various sustainable fashion runways, and attended various clean up beach days locally.

Jessica Lane working as a runway model. Picture – contributed.

Her next step is spending a month overseas in the Philippines where she will be competing in the international Miss Earth beauty pageant across October and November.

“I will be working to refine my advocacy and am hoping to make as much of a difference as possible,” Miss Lane said.

“Australia has never had a winner internationally.

“I’m really excited to represent our country and the Sunshine Coast.”

Last year Miss Lane also made it to national finals for the prestigious Miss World beauty pageant.