Coast scoops final

Miss World Australia follows Logies from Melbourne to Glitter Strip

MISS World Australia is leaving Melbourne for the Gold Coast.

The August 31 pageant is the second major event the Glitter Strip has swiped from the Victorian capital, with the Logies also coming north.

National director Deborah Miller said she began her bid to switch the location because the Gold Coast had become a hot spot for events.

“We have to keep evolving as an organisation, so we look at things that are trending and the Gold Coast is trending as an events destination,” she said.

“We wanted to jump on board and embrace the Gold Coast to be part of that vibrant, emerging scene.”

The event will be at the glitzy Palazzo Versace hotel at The Spit, with the winner to represent Australia at the international event in China on December 8.

Ms Miller held out hope that the world final might one day come to the Gold Coast, saying she intended keeping the national final in Queensland as part of her plan to bring the international event Down Under.

“Australia is a fabulous place to host international events and Queensland has demonstrated that,” she said.

“I think potentially the international final could come to Queensland.”

Queensland has won four of the past five national titles – Erin Holland, Courtney Thorpe, Tess Alexander and Madeline Cowe.

Picture: NIGEL HALLETT Miss World Australia finalists La'Ace de Vries, Aliandra Calabrese, Emma Peterson, Taylah Cannon, Yasmin Ildes, Alison Williams, Samara Welbourne and Beti Chuol at Palazzo Versace.