Today we’re chatting with Hannah Seery from Queensland, one of 28 remarkable women vying for the Miss Universe Australia 2026 crown, to be decided on August 26 at Palladium, Crown Melbourne. In a first for the pageant, this year’s national final will be broadcast live nationally on the Seven Network.
So Hannah, why don’t you start by telling us a bit about yourself?
I have only just turned 25 and I am originally from Perth. I have worked FIFO on a gold mine as an electrician with a Cert III in Instrumentation since I was 20 years old. Two years ago, I decided to move to the Gold Coast all on my own with no known connections or familiar faces to really get out of my comfort zone and start exploring—start navigating the life I want to create for myself. Beyond all this, I am a huge fitness girl and this year have taken a deep dive into it on social media by sharing my journey, helpful advice, and trying to help other females whilst working closely with my beautiful PT.
What inspired you to take the leap and enter Miss Universe Australia?
I knew I had so much more potential in life and that FIFO was not my be-all and end-all. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and not be afraid of how others perceive me. I knew in order to create the future I want for myself, I was going to have to put in the work and go after opportunities even if they seemed out of reach.
As part of the program, you had the amazing opportunity to travel to Vietnam and stay at the beautiful Mövenpick Resort Cam Ranh. How was that experience for you?
This was one of the most amazing experiences of my life, something I will hold on to forever. The person I came home as was not the same person I left being; the confidence I gained in myself and the clarity on the future I want was so clear. Everything about the trip—the people, the connections, experiences, and exposure to the environment of a program such as Miss Universe Australia—was unforgettable.
What’s one moment from the trip you don’t think you’ll ever forget?
It is so hard to pinpoint one moment, as every moment was just as good as the last. One that stands out would be the Bromley shoot. David and Yuge sparked something in me I didn’t know I had, and I had never felt so comfortable in my own skin whilst having two people I hardly knew in the same room. Since then, my confidence and the way I look at myself has changed.
As part of the trip, you also took part in your official swimwear shoot with Unnecessary. What was the experience like?
Incredible! It was my first-ever shoot. Sophia and the crew all did such an amazing job, working such long days but still making each girl feel just as important as the last, no matter how hot or tired they were. They made me feel so comfortable and confident in an environment I had no experience in.
Your next question comes from our current Miss Universe Australia, Lexie Brant. What is one belief or perspective that you’ve changed your mind about recently, and what caused that change?
Confidence: it is not something you are born with, but something that is gained through experiences. I used to think I would never have more confidence beyond the minimal amount I had. Since beginning Miss Universe Australia, January Hannah would be in disbelief at the confidence I have now. The more you put yourself out there, no matter how scary it seems, the more you learn and grow. When you have people clapping so loudly for you, such as everyone I’ve met in Miss Universe Australia, you suddenly feel like you can do anything.
With everyone bringing their own unique flair to the program, what would you say sets you apart from the other finalists?
Being a woman in trade, working the last 5 years in a male-dominated field, I feel sets me apart. I’ve had different experiences to the majority of the girls and it has definitely shaped me into the strong, independent woman I am today, and without throwing myself into that environment at such a young age I may not have had the confidence to move states on my own either.
What’s one skill, trip, or activity, not Miss Universe related, that you want to tick off your list before the end of 2026?
I would love to be able to do at least 5 unassisted chin-ups, which, as a gym girl who trains consistently, you would think I would have by now—but for some people it’s just not that easy, and I am one of those people, unfortunately. A handstand as well would be another trick I would love to master.
If you could work on any dream project, with no limits on time or resources, what would it be?
In all honesty, a cafe/restaurant that is macro-friendly, where meals have been calculated for you so upon purchasing you know exactly what macros you are about to consume. As a girl who tracks macros, it can be hard eating out and trying to estimate what I am consuming as I still want to hit my goals. It has been something that has crossed my mind regularly when eating out.
If 2026 had a theme song, what would it be?
Rein Me In (with Olivia Dean) by Sam Fender
What’s the most “you” thing currently sitting in your camera roll?
The hundreds of photos of meals I’ve made or screenshots of foods I want to recreate.
Best piece of advice you’ve ever ignored?
Off the top of my head, I can’t think of one specifically, but it was probably something my mum said.
What’s a completely useless or funny talent you have that you’re weirdly proud of?
Not much of a talent, but I am ambidextrous, so I am left-handed, right-dominant. I write left-handed, but basically for everything else I will use my right hand or leg.
Where to Watch, Hannah on the Miss Universe Australia National Final
The Miss Universe Australia National Final is being broadcast live on Seven Network on August 26, 2026. The live red-carpet coverage will begin at 7:00pm AEST, followed by the National Final at 7:30pm AEST on 7plus. The program then airs on Channel Seven following The Front Bar.
