A chat with Miss Universe Australia hopeful Stephanie

Well it is that time of year when the search to find the new Miss Universe Australia begins and this weekend in brisbane i will be a part of the judging panel that will select queenslands entrants in the Miss Universe Australia Pagent
It is sure to be a sea of hats, frocks, and stilettos as the Champagne flows at Doomben Racecourse when Girls’ Day Out  returns to the track this Saturday.
Starting off our weekend of coverage we have a chat with Gina one of the contestans who will be competing trackside this weekend
Hey Stephanie,
Thanks for taking the time to have a chat with us today in the lead up to Miss Universe Preliminary’s in Brisbane next weekend – just got a few questions for you
So first of all what prompted you to take the leap into Miss Universe Australia 2013 ….?
I’ve always been interested in the fashion and modeling industry and have recently started doing some modeling work. I decided to enter the competition as I think it will be an amazing opportunity to help me launch my modelling career and give me a boost in the industry. I also see this as an opportunity to meet some amazing new people and I’m looking forward to being a part of the excitement of the whole experience, which I think will be really valuable to me.
What has the perception of your friends and family been like on entering the competition…?
They have all been really supportive and encouraging, which has been great. I am very lucky to have such amazing friends and family in my life who believe in me and inspire me to achieve my goals.
If you had to describe yourself in a few short sentences what would you say …?
I would say that I’m very sweet-hearted, I have a kind and caring nature and always aim to be positive about life. I am also extremely self-motivated and hard working, I know what I want in life and am determined to achieve my goals.
With this everyone has a motivation or mantra in life what would you say yours is …?
Something that my mum has always told me is that ‘I was born to make the world a better place’. So this is definitely something I live by and try to incorporate into my life everyday. At the end of my life I would love to look back on it and know that I did make a difference in the world and it is a better place in some way because of me. I also like Ellen DeGeneres mantra –  “be kind to one another” – what a different world it would be if we could all follow this advice every day!
There are a lot of impressive looking people involved in the Miss Universe Australia pageant. What makes you stand out? What have you got that the other girls don’t?
The girls are all so beautiful and I’m sure I’m going to face some tough competition! What I believe will make me stand out, is that I’m down to earth, have a good sense of humour, and am very personable. I’m passionate, confident and determined to succeed. I really want to have fun in this experience and just enjoy myself!
People often label contestants in such contests into certain groups – what would you say about yourself breaks the stereotype of the typical pageant entrant…?
I think that there is a lot of focus on external beauty in these pageants. However, I’m a big believer in inner beauty, and that comes from self-awareness. I think that true beauty can’t be solely defined by a person’s exterior; it’s a person’s inner beauty that radiates outwards which makes them a beautiful person. So I hope that my inner beauty will shine across to the judges. I also believe I possess emotional intelligence, which I think is very important in the role of Miss Universe Australia, as it requires interacting with a lot of people. There will also be certain challenges involved, which I feel I will be able to handle with confidence and maturity.
Organisers and publications like ours often insist these competitions are not just about parading beautiful people around on a stage, that it brings something more to the community. What do you think Miss Universe Australia brings to the community?
Yes I agree that there is much more to beauty pageants! Looking back at previous winners of the pageant, not only are the girls physically beautiful, they are also highly intelligent, positive role models and are actively involved in enhancing the lives of others through charity work. I think having such inspiring public figures really benefits the community in terms of motivating young women to be the best possible person they can, as well as being a positive ambassador for the country, which is something I aspire to.
The Cliché Question … If you could meet one Person Dead Or alive Who Would it Be And Why …?
Maybe Jennifer Hawkins so she could give me some good insider tips for the pageant! But on a more serious note, I would say Oprah Winfrey. I think she is so inspiring, as she has shown that regardless of your upbringing, anything is possible if you put your mind to it. She uses her status and money to make the world a better place, and has made an incredible difference to the lives of so many around the world.
Now as a final question – what would you say makes you stand out from the other Miss Universe Australia contestants ….?
I am optimistic, and have a positive outlook on life. My family immigrated to Australia from Africa when I was 7 years old. I have watched my parents struggle against great odds, to make a successful life for us all in Australia, and I believe that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.  I am confident and believe in myself – and have worked hard to get to this point, by setting goals and taking action to achieve them. I am self-motivated, conscientious, and committed to whatever goals I set to achieve. I lead a healthy life, doing pilates and yoga regularly and eat a healthy diet. I am not afraid of hard work, and getting my hands dirty if I need to!
Now if you have anything else you would like to plug or mention feel free to add it…..!
I think my passion and determination to succeed is my most defining feature. I would love to win for so many reasons, but mostly because being given the opportunity to be an ambassador for Australia would be such an honour, and an amazing and rewarding experience. Having come from Africa, I have seen poverty and hardship, so I know how extremely lucky I am to live in this country and I strive to make the most of every opportunity I am given. I am also studying Tourism (as well as Event Management) at uni, so could leverage my understanding of this industry in my role as Miss Universe Australia. I would use my public image for the greater good and to make a difference in the world, as I am truly passionate about making a positive impact in some way in the world.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with us today !!
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