GREATE READS INSIDE TERRITORY RIG
Beauty pageants can give Territory lasses a gilt-edged opportunity to flaunt their stuff on the national and international stage
GEORGINA MOLLARD
THE pageant stage has been a stylish stepping stone to a beautiful career for Australian Miss Universe winners Jennifer Hawkins, Jesinta Franklin (nee Campbell) and Rachael Finch, the three of who vied for the coveted broad sash at the international Miss Universe competition.
Closer to home, Darwin-based fashion designer Sarina Cowcher’s design was worn by Miss Tourism Australia winner Diana Hills in 2017.
Diana was later crowned Miss Tourism International.
Sarina’s long-sleeved white gown was inspired by Australia’s multiculturalism and detailed with large blue butterflies and fish motifs. Diana accessorised the full length gown with a headpiece of a blue butterfly cut-out, which was striking against her blonde hair.
Images of the gown were beamed across social media.
The shining lights and sparkling smiles are not a guaranteed ticket to stardom, but an opportunity to be on the stage as modelling agents, talent scouts and influencers watch on. Beauty pageants are big business.
Locally, Stephanie Paris-Berlin has assisted many a Territory girl with stars in their eyes. She’s an agent for a West Australian-based firm and hosts events and lucrative competitions on their behalf in Darwin.
Stephanie told Frontier this week there’s three main reasons why girls make a fashionable step into the pageant world.
“Many girls enter pageants to improve their selfconfidence or to meet new friends,” she said.
“Other girls have their eye on the prize from the start and are keen to win.”
And that’s fair too — the prizes are impressive. Tickets for interstate and international travel, accommodation, beauty products and jewellery and a photography folio are just part of the prize purse on offer. But it’s not all about the sash.
Territorian Verusha Warde, who represented the Northern Territory at Miss World last year, told NT
News at the time of her competing she was looking forward to using the pageant to improve her selfconfidence.
“It’s a great experience — you really learn a lot about yourself,” Verusha said before heading to Melbourne to compete.
Magnolia Maymuru from Yirrkala took to the Miss World stage the year prior, and went on to become the face of Melbourne’s Chadstone, the largest retail space in the southern hemisphere.