GC600 Miss Supercars finals all about brand not the bikini body

IT’S goodbye bikini comp and hello stylish one piece - the evolution of the Miss Supercars contest has led to a field of finalists with a record number aged 30 and above.

THE evolution of the Miss Supercars contest has led to a field of finalists with a record number aged 30 and above.

Of the 26 contenders chosen from 1500 applicants nationwide, seven are 30-plus.

Organiser Selina Macdonald said it was symptomatic of changing times and Miss Supercars becoming less of a bikini model search and more about finding a corporate ambassador for the event.

“Because of the #metoo movement and the fact society has had a real change in the way women are perceived, what we really needed to do as a model search is change the whole program.

Miss Supercars finalists Elle Curtis, 36, and Gemma Buck, 33 - the competition has its biggest field of plus-30 finalists. Picture: Jerad Williams

“We’ve pulled out of doing the whole nightclub thing,” she said in reference to a previous a component involving finalists strutting their stuff on a bar stage in bikinis. Two-piece bikinis were also scrapped last year in favour of a stylish one-piece.

“The last two years we have increased the age because we are looking for ambassadors so you have to be 20 to enter now.

“That’s attracted a whole different market. When we put it on social media we got a lot of new entrants in Victoria, NSW, WA from girls who in the past probably just thought it was a bikini contest.

Miss Supercars photoshoot at Beachcomber Resort Surfers Paradise. Contestant Gemma Buck . Picture: Jerad Williams

“This year it has been a massive change,” she said.

The oldest finalist is Victoria’s Elle Curtis, 36, who said she decided to enter for the first time and hoped to provide leadership to the younger girls in the early 20s.

“I’ve always wanted to enter and be part of it but never had the confidence.”

Miss Supercars photoshoot at Beachcomber Resort Surfers Paradise. Contestant Alice Litzow. Picture: Jerad Williams

The personal trainer said she wanted to lead the way and show it was ok to “be yourself and not have to try and be someone who you are not”.

Tweed Heads finalist Gemma Buck, 33, said: “I like the message it’s got now about female empowerment and women supporting women. There can only be one winner but we’re a team.”

The program includes life coaching plus workshops on social media and personal development The winner is crowned tonight after a swimwear finals parade at Stingray Lounge.