It’s that exciting time of year again! We’re chatting with Alana Moore from Victoria, one of the 28 remarkable and accomplished women from diverse backgrounds vying for the title of Miss Universe Australia 2024. The winner is set to be crowned in the Grand Ballroom at Crown Perth on the 5th of September.
So, Alana, why don’t you start by telling us a bit about yourself?
I would describe myself as a very bubbly and vivacious woman who was born and raised on the beautiful Gold Coast! This year, I have traded in my relaxed, laid-back beach lifestyle for a much busier city life in Melbourne, and I am absolutely loving it. With over a decade’s worth of experience in modelling, I am currently working hard to pursue my passion for the entertainment industry. This passion has allowed me to travel internationally, work with amazing creatives, and has ultimately contributed to my personal growth and self-confidence.
Aside from my professional life, you can catch me with a matcha in hand after my Pilates class, taking a walk through a park with my friends, or probably eating pizza somewhere!
What inspired you to take the leap and enter Miss Universe Australia?
It surprises a lot of people when I tell them that for much of my youth, I grew up very shy and extremely introverted—completely opposite to the woman you see today. That being said, I have loved the Miss Universe Australia program since I was 8 years old. I was in awe of how confident, unique, memorable, and proud the women were, and I hoped that one day I could be just like that.
Having Miss Universe Australia as a representation for me growing up has helped me become the person I am today, and it is the reason why I have achieved so many of my dreams and goals. Although I can’t go back and tell that little girl to take those risks, care less about other people’s opinions, and believe in herself, I know what I can do now is inspire other young women to find the confidence I once lacked—and that’s why I entered.
As part of the program, you had the amazing opportunity to travel to Vietnam, courtesy of Vietjet, and stay at the beautiful Hoiana Resort. How was that experience for you?
One word. WOW.
I honestly still can’t believe I was fortunate enough to have such an amazing experience. I still have to pinch myself when I think back to our trip. Seeing Vietnam for the first time with a group of amazing girls by my side is a memory I will cherish forever—and I can’t forget the amazing team who worked so hard to ensure we had the best time!
I am so grateful to VietJet and Hoiana Resort & Golf for making the experience possible!
What would you say was the highlight of the trip?
The highlight of my trip would have to be visiting a local village to see Hearing and Beyond, a school that helps educate deaf Vietnamese children within the community. I really cherish unique experiences like these. The children were all so full of life—dancing, laughing, and making us feel so welcome in their classrooms. They taught us sign language, and I was also lucky enough to receive a private dance lesson from one of the talented students. (Safe to say, I will not be taking up dancing!)
At the end of our visit, we were told that we had raised $10,000 to help fund more teachers for the school. Knowing how much this would help them felt so rewarding, and it is truly something I will never forget.
Can you describe an experience in Vietnam that pushed you out of your comfort zone?
I would say I am always doing things to push myself out of my comfort zone, so it’s hard to find something I haven’t yet tried. However, I did try egg for the first time in Vietnam. Yes, that’s right. Egg!
I think everyone was extremely surprised that I had never tried such a staple food before, and to be honest, I am also very surprised. So, one morning, my roommate went and got me scrambled eggs to try, and to be completely honest, it didn’t taste like anything! Now, I eat eggs most mornings.
Your next question comes from our current Miss Universe Australia, Moraya Wilson. Imagine you’re standing on stage with the title of Miss Universe Australia 2024. What advice would you give to your younger self?
The advice I would give my younger self is to let go. Let go of what people think about you—whether they think you dream too big, talk too loud, or are not enough. All that matters is what you think about yourself. No one in this world is going to believe in you as much as you will.
Know your potential, own who you are, and never back down. Keep fighting because one day you’ll be up on stage as Miss Universe Australia 2024, living out your dream, and you’ll realise why everything happened the way it did—and it will all be worth it.
With everyone bringing their own unique flair to the program, what would you say sets you apart from the other contestants?
I love that this program celebrates our uniqueness, and all the women this year bring something so special to the table. For me, I think my unique flair is my determination and positivity.
I take great pride in my ability to always believe in myself, and even if things do not go my way, I view each experience as an opportunity to grow. Having such a positive outlook on life means that I am a risk-taker and am always throwing myself into things that will challenge me.
What’s something about you that people might find surprising?
I always say that I have lived so many different lives already, and everyone is always surprised when I mention that I was an interior designer for three years. I love all things creative, and it was always a big dream of mine growing up to work in the industry.
Having such a professional career at a young age taught me a lot of valuable skills, which I have applied to everything I do. It also taught me that if you work hard, anything is achievable. Although I still love design, last year I decided to take the risk and hang up my measuring tape and paint swatches to pursue another dream of mine: working in the entertainment industry. Since then, I haven’t looked back.
If you could work on any dream project, with no limits on time or resources, what would it be?
Something I have been working towards is creating programs for young women to help build their self-confidence. I have worked with a few girls within the development side of modelling to help give them the courage to step into the industry since it can be quite daunting.
The skills I have taught them are skills they can apply throughout all aspects of life—not just modelling. This has been so rewarding and is something I wish I had growing up. I would love to take this to a larger scale and help many more young women find their inner confidence and potential.
We have a few quick questions to wrap up the interview:
If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?
Definitely surfing! I grew up with a dad who could surf, and growing up on the Gold Coast, I think it would have been an amazing talent to take advantage of.
What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I love to go on adventures and am always travelling or exploring new places. One story I love to tell people is the time I motorcycled around Paris.
Do you have a guilty pleasure that you enjoy?
Pizza, chocolate, and a good rom-com on a weekday…
If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and how would you use it?
I always thought it would be really cool to grant people’s wishes. Maybe that’s because I was obsessed with Aladdingrowing up… But I love to see people happy, and if I could make their dreams come true, I would love that. (No wishing for more wishes, though!)
Help Alana and the Miss Universe Australia Finalists Make a Difference
Alana, along with the other Miss Universe Australia Finalists, has collectively raised over $500,000 to support ToyBox and its official 2024 charities: Camp Quality and Ronald McDonald House. You can donate now using the link below.
