Meet Tasmania’s pageant queens heading to international stage
Dreams are becoming a reality for two young Tassie women who are making their mark in the pageant world and beyond. Their advice to pageant hopefuls.
For 12-year-old Alondra Lisica, her dreams of making it big in the pageant world began at just the age of 8 when she saw videos on YouTube of other little girls in pageants.
“I saw it and I said to Mum ‘I need to do this, I want to do this’,” she said.
Now, those dreams are coming true, with Alondra set to travel to Texas to compete in the Miss Ultimate International next year.
Alondra took home the national title at the Ultimate International Miss Australia pageant in Melbourne for her age category of Junior Teen, crediting her success to pageants being her “happy place”.
“They have such a positive and family environment that I love because of our sisterhood and you bond like with all the girls,” she said.
Through Alondra’s pageant career, she has supported the charity The Starlight Children’s Foundation, as well as starting up her own podcast in late October called Your Story, where she interviews everyday Australians on how they have overcome challenges.
Alondra’s challenge now is planning what categories she will compete in at the Texas competition and how she will pack all her outfit changes for the international trip.
“We’re still trying to figure out how we’re going to pack everything in suitcases because we have to have multiple gowns, multiple jumpsuits, multiple big national costumes, accessories, shoes, big skirts, all of that and packed in a maximum of two, three suitcases,” she said.
“I would say believe in yourself, be confident, and be you if you’re thinking of going into pageants.”
Another Tasmanian girl crowned at the national pageant was 19-year-old Chelsea Marsh, taking home the title of Miss Ultimate of Australia.
She said it was “surreal” to mark three years of being in the pageant world with a national title and was excited to head to Texas alongside Alondra and represent Australia.
“It’s still so surreal and I’m beyond excited to represent Australia,” she said.
“I started in the Mini Miss Pageants in Tasmania and was then scouted to compete in the Miss Royalty Australia last year and then the Ultimate International Miss this month.”
On her swift climb up the ranks, Ms Marsh said it was part luck and hard work that got her to a national title so quickly.
“I know a lot of girls I compete with who have been in pageants since they were little, but I’ve worked hard to get prepared and have given it my all,” she said.
While supporting The Starlight Children’s Foundation, Ms Marsh has also started her own platform called My Most Authentic Self, where she hopes to encourage others, especially young girls, to gain confidence in their true self and value themselves outside of others’ beliefs.
Her message to other pageant hopefuls mirrors this message.
“My message to those thinking about pageants is to be who you really are and be authentic,” Ms Marsh said.
“Don’t forget to have fun with pageants — that’s what it’s supposed to be about not winning and crowns and sashes.”
Originally published as Meet Tasmania’s pageant queens heading to international stage
Man had ‘Aladdin’s cave’ of firearms and ammunition
