Inside the world of Geelong’s pageant queens
Pageants can turn nobodies into overnight success stories. Take a look back at some of Geelong’s most notable beauty queens.
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When Lara beauty queen Amber Sidney first got an offer to compete in a pageant, she thought it was too good to possibly be true.
The Deakin graduate and 2022 Miss Grand Australia winner told the Addy a picture taken at a university ball that changed everything.
“A friend had a date for the night who had previously been involved in pageants,” she said.
“We posted a picture together and a Facebook friend of hers who was a pageant director reached out to me and asked if I’d be interested in competing in Taiwan.”
Upon first glance the promise of an overseas trip with free flights and accommodation appeared too good to be true.
“I actually thought it was a joke, so I ended up just not replying,” she said.
“And then the girl who I had the photos with, she actually reached out to me directly. I did a lot of investigation and it turns out it was a legit offer.”
Sidney said the offer had come just weeks after she’d told a friend she wanted to say “yes to every opportunity”.
“I’ve been able to travel to new places, meet girls from every corner of the world,” she said.
Seven years after the first offer the Geelong local will head overseas in October to represent Australia at the Miss Grand International competition in Indonesia.
Sidney was crowned Miss Grand Australia at a ceremony earlier this year.
“I was actually speechless,” she said.
“I was just really, really grateful when I won. I’ve already been able to go overseas, and I’m excited to go back again.”
Ahead of the competition in October, she recently headed to Indonesia to get the lay of the land, meet with designers and start working with local charities.
Sidney said the traditional focus of beauty pageants had also changed, placing more emphasis on working with non-profits.
“They focus on charity, and advocacy, and standing up for what they believe in,” she said.
“It’s about really using your platform to speak up and about your advocacy and what you care about.”
Sidney devotes time to raising money for BullyZero Australia and Destiny Rescue.
Having spent the build of her 20s competing in pageants, Sidney said it had helped her develop skills difficult to pick up in everyday life.
“I definitely owe that to my interview skills to pageantry because you’ll feel you’re virtually training for years,” she said.
“Overall, my confidence is a lot better.”
Sarah Czarnuch
A model, designer and Geelong-raised beauty writer, Sarah Czarnuch was crowned Miss Tourism Australia in 2014.
Her impressive resume includes stints modelling for major fashion houses Tiffany and Co. and Cartier and has taken her to London, Malaysia and Singapore.
The multi-talented beauty has also leant her talents as the Addy’s own gt magazine.
“As a little girl I would look through magazines and see the advertisements. Never in a million years did I think that would be me,” she told gt in 2017.
“I think it’s important to have a goal to work towards, but when you go above and beyond your personal expectations then that’s something to be really proud of.”
In previous years she’s also leant her hand to good causes through involvement with the Barwon Health Foundation and as a Run Geelong ambassador.
“It’s incredible to see all those people banding together to raise funds and awareness for an important cause,” she said in 2017.
“Every year it’s a different cause but it’s always local and that’s why it has a special place in my heart.”
Rebecca Watson
Geelong childcare worker Rebecca Watson represented her state at the Miss World Australia national finals earlier this year.
Ms Watson, who hails from Ocean Grove, was one of five Victorians selected out of 32 contestants to compete after the competition was put on hold due to Covid lockdowns.
“I never thought I would be able to get out of my comfort zone and do something like this,” she said after being listed as a finalist last year.
“The main goal of why I joined this pageant was their motto ‘beauty with a purpose’ empowering women to live a humanitarian and purposeful life.”
Kirsten Stanley
Former Miss Universe WA finalist and model Kirsten Stanley has called Geelong home since her marriage to Cats ruckman Rhys.
An accomplished model, Stanley has worked for major labels including David Jones, Myer, Garnier, Lorna Jane and served as ambassador for the 2019 F1 Rolex Aus GP and more locally, the 2019 Geelong Cup.
“Rhys has definitely proved to me that Geelong is quite a beautiful place,” Stanley told the Geelong Advertiser in 2016 after marking the move to Victoria.
“Living reasonably close to the beach now, I feel I can never sit still, I always have to go outside and make the most of the day.”
Stephanie Stefanovic
Self-described “health and wellness junkie” Stephanie Stefanovic is Geelong’s latest pageant hopeful.
The 23-year-old was recently named a Miss World Australia Victorian finalist, and will represent her state on the Gold Coast early next year.
Last month she spoke to the Addy about her chosen charity, Variety, which raises funds for sick children.
“It’s all about raising money for children that have disadvantages, chronic illness or diabetes … they do such great work,” she said.
Alex Hecker
Miss World Australia 2014 runner up Alex Hecker has gone on to lend her talents to an amazing cause.
According to social media, the model and MC also works as a puppy development Adviser with Guide Dogs Australia.
The Geelong native placed second in the national competition against 43 other national contestants when she was just 23-years-old.
“It was amazing, it’s probably been one of the best experiences of my life,” she told the Geelong Addy at the time.
“I was so excited to hear my name, it was very overwhelming and I suppose a bit of relief as we had all put in so much hard work during the week and to have it pay off and get a place was just more than I could have expected.”
Since her pageant days, she’s won the 2019 South Australian Fashion At The Races award and leant her talents for Guide Dogs Australia’s annual Pawgust fundraisers.
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Originally published as Inside the world of Geelong’s pageant queens
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