Miss World Australia models allegedly attacked outside Gold Coast shopping centre

Miss World Australia and a group of aspiring pageant contestants as young as 14 were forced to fend off an alleged random violent attack outside a Gold Coast shopping centre, described as “terrifying”.

Jasmine Stringer at the Australian Fashion Federation HUXNBOSS Model Search 2023 at Imperial Hotel. Picture: Portia Large

Miss World Australia Jasmine Stringer and a group of young aspiring pageant contestants were forced to fend off an alleged random violent attack as they waited for a taxi outside a Gold Coast shopping centre Friday night.

Ms Stringer recounted the terrifying incident after the pageant hopefuls, some as young as 14, were allegedly accosted by a woman outside the Southport Park Shopping Centre.

She said the Miss World Australia and Top Model Australia contestants had just finished a catwalk training session at the centre’s gymnasium when they went out onto the street to wait for their taxis.

It was around 6pm when a woman, who the group said was acting erratically, allegedly charged at them and began physically and verbally attacking them.

“The lady charged at me screaming across the road in what seemed like a manic episode,” Ms Stringer alleged.

Miss World Australia Jasmine Stringer. Picture: Sam Tabone

“I tried to stand my ground without escalating the situation, but she launched at me and tried to punch me in the face. It was a terrifying situation.”

Ms Stringer alleged the woman continued to attack other young participants, hurling abuse and physically attacking them.

Tiarnie Mueller, a mother from Cairns who was chaperoning her 16-year-old daughter Eloise, a finalist for the Top Model Australia competition, alleged the woman pulled another contestant to the ground by her hair.

“The lady had one of the young models by the hair and pulled her down to the ground,” she said.

Ms Mueller said she tried to free the young girl from the woman’s grasp.

“We thought she was going to rip a big chunk out of her hair,” she said.

She said the woman then allegedly turned her rage towards Ms Mueller’s 14-year-old daughter, trying to punch her as she shouted at her near their taxi.

Miss World Australia winner Jasmine Stringer at the national crowning at the Gold Coast. Picture: Barry Ching

Jasmine Stringer at the 2023 Oaks Day at Flemington Racecourse. Picture:Sam Tabone/Getty Images)

“And then she came at my 14-year-old daughter and was verbally abusing her and tried to hit her,” she said.

“She came over to the taxi and tried opening the doors and tried abusing my daughters again.”

Director of Miss World Australia, Deborah Miller, expressed her shock over such a violent incident, especially in a tourist-friendly area like the Gold Coast.

“I would not expect that anywhere in Australia, especially not the Gold Coast, which is a tourist-friendly place,” she said.

“People from all over the world come to this place.

“It was terrifying. I also live in Los Angeles and I’ve never experienced someone with that much rage and anger, and selecting young teenagers and young women.”

She said additional security measures would be implemented immediately to protect participants at future events.

“I will be keeping an extra eye out at these kinds of events and making sure that there are procedures in place to ensure the safety of our contestants,” Ms Miller said.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said a 46-year-old woman was located outside the centre and was given a notice to appear for commit public nuisance. She was not charged in relation to any of the alleged attacks on the pageant group.