Today we are talking with Holly Dexter from Victoria on of the twenty-eight. Talented and inspiring women from all walks of life who are vying for the title of Miss Universe Australia 2020. 

In what has certainly been an unpredictable and unprecedented year of ups and downs we’re thrilled to bring you our ninth year of Miss Universe Australia finalist interviews. 

So name, why don’t you tell us about yourself? 

My names Holly Dexter, I’m 23 years old, and I’m currently living in Melbourne, Victoria, I’m originally from a country town called Ballarat. I’ve grown up in a family with three sisters and spent most of my childhood dancing and doing gymnastics, pretty much mum put me in gymnastics to get me to run out of energy (it did not work). 

My life’s pretty boring at the moment because of COVID. Still, usually, I’m running around doing photoshoots, campaigns and attending events, or also practising what I’d say if I ever met Zac Efron, you never know when that’ll happen. It’s better to be safe than sorry! 

In my spare time, I love to sew, mainly outfits to wear to events. I studied Fashion Design and Technology after school, so that’s where that hobby came from. 

I was supposed to be a flight attendant this year (thanks rona), but instead, I’ve been working as a full-time content creator through Instagram, but I want to study nursing next year.

The Miss Universe Australia program has been on hold since earlier in the year and now making its way towards a virtual final to be held on October 28, What motivated you to enter the Miss Universe Australia Program? 

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, I remember when I was five at a dancing event, and some of the older girls dressed me up as a beauty queen and gave me a sash and crown, and it felt pretty cool.

Then as I got older, I started following Miss Universe and falling in love with the girls, in particular Olivia Culpo, she was goofy and laid back, and I felt like I resonated with her. 

About two years ago when my Instagram started to pick up, I realised I wanted to be an inspiration for people and help them get through hard things by sharing my own experience of anxiety and dealing with my mum’s cancer diagnoses when I was still in school.

 I’ve already got a voice on Instagram, and I’m very sure of the message I want to spread, and Miss Universe is giving me the opportunity to amplify that.

This year has been like no other, how have you been coping so far and what’s been the biggest challenge and positive that has come out of it all? 

I’ve had my ups and downs through this, the first lockdown was alright, but this lockdown is just the worst! I remember when we got the announcement of the second lockdown, I just panicked; it felt like I was going to jail or something. 

Having your freedom taken away isn’t easy, and I honestly can’t want to see my family and friends again. One good thing though is that I’ve been living with my best friend and it really brought our relationship closer together, or she could just be being extra lovely because she can’t escape me if we have a falling out haha.

With everyone bringing such an individual flair to the competition, what do you think is something that will set you apart from the other contestants? 

Well, I don’t want to brag, but I’m pretty sure I’m the only one that knows all the lyrics to 0-100 by Drake. Only kidding (but I do know all the lyrics to that song), I think something that sets me apart is probably my sense of humour and ability not to take myself too seriously all the time. I think I’m the real typical Australian stereotype of the group; it’s probably just the country in me. 

The winner of Miss Universe Australia 2020 will also receive the prestigious Minespec Parts grant worth $20,000 to spend on your education or business startup, what would you do if you received this grant? And would you say your answer has changed now during the current COVID climate?

My idea hasn’t changed due to Covid, but if I were to receive the very generous Minespec Parts grant, I would use it to start a business and recycle coffee cups. Coffee cups contain a lining called polyethene which can’t be recycled, which unfortunately means all our coffee cups are going straight into landfill. 

I want to create a bin system and put them all around the CBD’s in Australia to recycle these coffee cups. The bins would be made up three bins, the first being for the lids, the second for the contents remaining in the cup and lastly a bin for the cup. I would then take the cup bin and have all the cups delivered to a place called Newtecpoly in NSW, where they can take the polyethylene out of the cardboard and have it recycled into something like electrical insulation, where we could then sell this and make a profit. 

First thing you will do when this pandemic ends? 

Go straight to the hairdresser, have you seen my regrowth?

Place you will hope to travel to next? 

I would love to go to Europe!

Have you taken up a new hobby, skill or learnt a new dish during lockdown? 

I’ve learnt that I’m a really bad cook if that counts?

Presenting Sponsor

Minespec Parts are proud to be the presenting sponsor for Miss Universe Australia, Working to empower and support women not just through the Miss Universe Australia pageant and their $20k education and business grant, but through many platforms with various activities across Australia all furthering and supporting women in the workplace.