VANESSA’S GOLDEN NIGHT
GEELONG teenager Vanessa Volarevic has fulfilled a childhood dream after being crowned Miss Croatia Australia-New Zealand at a ceremony on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
After securing the Miss Croatia Geelong title in August, Vanessa, pictured, won the competition’s ultimate honour against finalists from across Australia.
After months of preparation, community service, a panel interview and Q&A in front of an audi- ence, the 17-year-old was still in shock yesterday that her hard work had paid off.
“I’m just a local girl from Geelong, but people have been coming up to me all day wishing me well, congratulating me, asking for photos, it’s all very overwhelming,” she said. “It is such an honour to be able to represent my club and my local community.”
Vanessa entered the competition on behalf of the North Geelong Warriors Football Club and said she had been waiting for her chance to enter the competition since she was 12 years old.
The pageant judges competitors on not only their performances on the gala night, but also on their level of community contribution and commitment to their Croatian heritage.
Vanessa has volunteered for more than 50 hours and raised $8500 for her football club this year alone.
The North Geelong Warriors Football Club took to social media yesterday to congratulate their club member on the win.
“Congratulations to our very own Vanessa Volarevic on being crowned the 2018 Miss Croatia Aus- tralia & New Zealand winner. We are very proud of you,” it read.
Vanessa said that events like Miss Croatia were important in keeping the heritage and culture of Croatia alive in the local community for future generations.
“I want to help continue our language, culture and heritage, which is important when we are so far away from our homeland,” she said.
“We are a very loud and passionate people.
I want to use this title to just be a role model and encourage younger kids to have an active role in the community.”