Miss Universe NSW finalists say pageant is not just about beauty
The five Miss Universe NSW finalists, who are all vying to become the next Jennifer Hawkins, say the famed pageant has become more about personality and intelligence and less about beauty.
They might be genetically-blessed beauties but these ladies are all about brains.
The five Miss Universe NSW finalists, who are all vying to become the next Jennifer Hawkins, say the famed pageant has become more about personality and intelligence and less about beauty.
“I think the shift has happened in the last year because the competition as a whole historically has received a lot of criticism and backlash,” contestant Veronica Cloherty said.
“The audition process now focuses more on you as a person, your intelligence, what you know and what your opinion is.
“They do ask you to submit photos but the main focus is on a video diary we need to submit saying a bit about ourselves and why we are entering the competition.”
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The 26-year-old Sydneysider, who will compete in the National final on June 25, said pageants, which are often accused of objectifying women, are changing for the better.
“The focus is less on visuals and more on our personalities and what we have to say,” she said.
“The focus is on empowering women and making sure women feel like they are being heard. “Everybody is entitled to their opinion on pageants, but I think everyone should give it a chance, do a little bit of research and find out what it is about.”
Northern Beaches-based hopeful Rosy Riley, who also competed in the competition last year, said she was using the globally-recognised pageant to learn more about herself.
“I see this as a self-growth opportunity — not a pageant,” the 23-year-old said.
“Before I entered this I had never done an interview, I had never done a photoshoot, never done a runway show and I got to do all of that.
“It is just an amazing experience really. It is less focused on looks. It is about encompassing so much more. It is about your personality, if you are down to earth, approachable, relatable, intelligence.”
The five finalists beat out 28 NSW-based hopefuls last month, bringing them one step closer to representing Australia in the prestigious pageant, which has launched the careers of Rachael Finch, Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) and Erin McNaught.
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