Australia’s new royal Jessica Lane wants to save the world after being crowned Miss Earth
Melbourne climate advocate Jessica Lane has won the global Miss Earth pageant — the first Aussie to win an international beauty crown since Jennifer Hawkins twenty years ago.
Fiona Byrne
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Melbourne born and raised environmental warrior Jessica Lane wants to save the world after taking out the global Miss Earth title.
Lane, 22, a journalist and university student, has been crowned Miss Earth in Manila in the Philippines, beating out 75 other contenders for the title in her first pageant appearance.
“I want to be a voice for mother nature,” Lane said.
The Miss Earth pageant is aimed at raising awareness of the climate and environment and giving a voice to young women wanting to make a positive impact in those areas.
Lane, who is studying and working on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, is the first Australian to win the international crown.
“I am really here for the environmental advocacy side of things,” she said.
“I do believe that pageants are an incredible platform for women to not only learn some incredible life skills, but to have the opportunity to amplify their voice for a cause.”
As Miss Earth, Lane is supported by an elemental court with the three runners up holding the titles of Miss Air, Miss Water and Miss Fire.
“We are hopefully going to work together as much as we can to continue with our conservation goals,” she said.
Her sunny Aussie nature helped her develop a large fan following during the Miss Earth preliminary rounds.
“We did quite a few school visits during the pageant,” she said.
“One school had 10,000 students. We were on stage sharing our advocacy and I did the ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’ chant and everyone joined in.
“Some of the students came along to coronation night and brought along Australian flags and got the entire crowd to do ‘Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi’, I could not believe it.”
Every part of Lane’s Miss Earth preparation had a link to the environment including the design of the gowns she wore in competition.
“My evening gown was designed by Chris Egne from Cegne and inspired by Australian waters,” she said.
“I wanted some drama so it had a hood made from recycled (fishing) nets, the cloak was meant to look like water, the bottom half of the gown had a pattern of blue whale tail and the top half was inspired by the peaks of the Sydney Opera House.”
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