Miss Universe Australia Zoe Creed opens up in exclusive interview ahead of the finals in Mexico
New Miss Universe Australia Zoe Creed opens up on being a tomboy, pressure of being a teen model from age 15 and the ‘dark part of my life’ before claiming the tiara. FULL INTERVIEW
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The first face newly-crowned Miss Universe Australia Zoe Creed searched for in the crowd when her name was read out was her father’s.
Standing on stage in Perth at the glitzy pageant finale, and holding the hands in that moment of runner-up Latisha Bakins, the 23-year-old Gold Coaster recalls: “I looked for my dad because he’s never seen me modelling or on a runaway and I’ve been doing it for nine years.
“I’ve never seen him cry either. Never. He cried,” she says.
“My mum (Belinda) has always had belief in me and she always says that but my dad drilled it into me. I thank him for that because he has a no-fuss approach. He says ‘You’ve got it, you always have, just learn to believe in yourself’. The one thing he always said to me is it’s you versus you - and when you get out of your own way, anything’s possible.”
On her win, she says: “People can say it’s destiny, I just say it’s hard work. I don’t think I was destined to do this, I worked bloody hard and I happen to be successful.”
Sitting down for an indepth interview in the Social Studios podscast hub at Broadbeach Waters, she asked if people have under-estimated her, and she says: “One thing that’s always stuck with me was a girl at school who said ‘You’re lucky you’re pretty, you’re not going to get anywhere in life’ - and I was like ‘You’re wrong, I’ll show you’ because at that point I had a direction of where I wanted to go, I’m already doing it and I’m going to keep on doing it.
“It’s not necessary to put them back in their place or prove anyone wrong, it’s to say to yourself you are so much more capable than you think.
Her modelling career and recent pageant success is a far cry from her self-confessed “typical tomboy” childhood which was all monkey bars and mud pies and climbing trees.
“My mum would struggle to get me into dresses. There was no way you’d find me in a dress. I would be on the monkey bars, making mud pies with whatever dirt I could find or climbing a tree. Complete opposite to what I found myself doing now.
“When I was five I wanted to be a builder like Dad.”
As for her said ‘pretty priviledge’ she said, “I’m a privileged person. I’m your typical blonde, and a model. It’s definitely a privilege - to an extent - you can achieve quite a lot not trying. However you have to fight a bit harder...that’s one of the biggest struggles that most women who are beautiful face, because they are seen as only a pretty face.”
Beyond overcoming people judging her purely on appearance, she’s had her own person health challenges - including a debilitating eating disorder (more of that later) and managing crippling endometriosis pain, most recently on the pageant runway during the Miss Universe Australia final stages in swimwear.
“I’ve dealt with the pain my whole life, like many women have to. We have such an ability to go into flight or fight mode.”
But she argues women shouldn’t have to. “There is still not enough support, information or studies done to help women throughout their life. We go through so many phases.
“There is definitely not enough support when it comes to believing a woman in her pain.
“She says she’s in pain, she’s in pain.”
It’s prompted her to highlight what she calls the “she’ll be right culture” to ensure women are heard and not dismissed when it comes to their debilitating discomfort.
She recently launched a social media page ‘Women’s Pain Greater Purpose’ and t-shirt collection featuring #shewillberight.
The winning of the Miss Universe Australia crown and promises of opportunities which come with it have put Miss Creed in the spotlight – but it’s not an unusual place for her.
She’s been modelling since her mid-teens, has her own public wellness platform – specifically for women – called Born Creed and had a small appearance in famed director Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis biopic movie filmed on the Gold Coast. She even briefly rubbed shoulders with the movie’s stars, Tom Hanks and Austin Butler.
In just over a month’s time she will be thrust into the international spotlight - representing Australia in Mexico at the Miss Universe global crowning.
“It’s definitely insane. I’ve never been one to shy away - if I do, I’ve got no chance. If they don’t like you, they don’t like you. If they love you, they love you.
“I think nerves are good. It’s big shoes to fill, it’s a lot to compare yourself too. But I was chosen for a reason, so I’ve got to believe in other people’s belief in me and take away the doubt that I can’t do it.
“I’ve tried my hardest this far and it’s gotten me this far, so why not just keep going and see what happens.”
Boyfriend Adam Todd - a geologist who once went on The Bachelorette and now works on movie sets as a body double for Australian A-lister Chris Hemsworth - says he was “just so stressed” watching her make her way to the Miss Universe Australia crown describes her as someone who is “super outgoing, honest, loving, gives everything a go”.
She first started out in the at times cut-throat modelling business at age 15 - but it wasn’t all smooth sailing for the statuesque blonde stunner who credits who enduring success in the industry to strong sense of self and self-belief.
“It’s brutal in the fact it’s purely subjective. You have to know it is not as glamourous as it seems. It’s an amazing industry and you get to meet so many amazing, like-minded people but at times it’s brutal.
“Many opinions will be thrown at you. As long as you know within youself what you think of you, and it’s positive, you’re going to survive. If you have a negative frame of mind going into it, and you let things get to you easily, it can be a really dark industry.
“It’s a great industry, you just have to have a good mindset.”
The Miss Universe Australia crown is among the biggest wins of her life. But it has made her reflect on her biggest challenge – overcoming eating disorder anorexia.
“An eating disorder is a disease at the end of the day. It’s a process and I wouldn’t say I’m there yet but I’m definitely learning coping mechanisms.
“It’s a really dark part of my life – but it’s also one of the most proud moments – overcoming something you didn’t think you could get through, especially when you see it affecting your family. I got down to quite a low weight but my wake up call was when I saw how much it affected people around me. I had teachers crying, my mum, dad and brother, my partner at the time. I thought ‘Okay, what am I doing, what am I doing to myself’.
“It’s such an empowering moment to go ‘my god I did this – I never want to be in that space again. It is preventable and you can give people the tools. Life’s to be enjoyed and you should not be worrying about what you look like.”
She reflects: “At that time of 15 to 17, you’re so vulnerable, you’re still growing, still going through puberty, you have not even figured out any part of your life yet – at least I hadn’t. And some of the body comments, any physical comment can impact you.
“You have to be very strong. I would not change anything I have done in my life especially going through the dark parts of the eating disorder, mental health, starting modelling at age 15. I wouldn’t change it because it made me who I am today and gave me so much knowledge.”
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Originally published as Miss Universe Australia Zoe Creed opens up in exclusive interview ahead of the finals in Mexico
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