Kathy Criniti to represent Australia in Mrs Universe beauty pageant

She’s part of the family which birthed Italian restaurant chain Criniti’s— but now Kathy Criniti is gearing up to hit the catwalk internationally.

Sydney restaurateur Kathy Criniti is back in the spotlight.

Criniti, who is the sister of the founder of Italian restaurant chain Criniti’s, will represent Australia at the Mrs Universe beauty pageant this month.

The 48-year-old mother of three will fly to Bulgaria for the global event later this month.

Kathy will represent Australia at the Mrs Universe beauty pageant. Picture: Richard Dobson

Human trafficking is the issue she wants to highlight when representing Australia among the 87 other international delegates.

“I am going to Bulgaria, that is one of the biggest countries in the world for human trafficking, that and the Ukraine,” she said.

“I will be in the hub, which is a big scary.”

Criniti is a survivor of domestic violence herself so will also talk about that experience.

“There is no shame in having these things happen to you,” she said.

There will be 87 other international delegates. Picture: Richard Dobson

“I was an educated girl, came from a great family, made great choices and yet I was living this life that I had such shame with. I lived in it for years. There were times where I would imagine running my car into a tree because I didn’t tell my mum, my best friend or anybody.”

Criniti works for the once-thriving restaurant chain, which in 2019 went into administration with debts of more than $16.5 million.

In October, under the new ownership of Raj Patel and his Brunelli Group, Criniti’s Parramatta reopened to fanfare however has been plagued with negative reviews and reports.

New COVID-19 exposure sites are popping up across Melbourne. Crinitis Restaurant in Southbank. Thursday, May 27, 2021. Picture: David Crosling

A viral TikTok then accused the brand of buying positive reviews, however it’s a claim Criniti denied.

So what are Criniti’s chances of winning Mrs Universe?

“Who knows? Australia has never won before so it would be nice,” she said.

“I am just really happy to have the platform and it is taking me somewhere I have dreamt to go.”