Alysha Filipaina enters Miss Diamond International
A beauty pageant contestant wants to instil confidence in others who were bullied like she was as a teenager.
Parramatta
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Growing up as a mixed-race girl, Alysha Filipaina was always a target at high school.
Her Samoan, Maori and Anglo ancestry meant she was hassled for having fair skin despite her Polynesian lineage.
“I struggled with not being a typical Samoan … because I am quite petite and born in Australia and don’t look like the stereotypical Samoan,’’ she said.
“It’s hard because now I’m a mum, my son’s five I don’t know much about my culture.”
The Northmead woman suffered depression but is using her empathy to help others build confidence as part of her role in Miss Diamond International, a beauty pageant that also involves participants highlighting a cause close to their hearts.
The 29-year-old event manager says she wants to “give a platform for woman to let them know it’s not all about the looks”.
“The pageant is about building confidence in all ages,’’ she said.
“This pageant is not just for adults. I’m just building everybody’s confidence. There is no height or size restrictions.’’
Miss Filipaina also hopes to raise awareness for children’s organisation, the Starlight Foundation, which her son Ignatius Lima benefited from when he suffered bronchitis and received treatment at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.
Winners of the Mr and Miss Diamond International pageant will be announced in April.