Jessie Wynter - Miss Universe Australia 2019 Finalist Interview

We're kicking off our eighth year of finalist interviews with Jessie Wynter from Tasmania, one of the twenty-eight talented, and inspiring contestants
Jessie Wynter - Miss Universe Australia 2019 Finalist Interview

We’re excited it’s that time of the year again when we get to introduce you to the contestants of Miss Universe Australia. We’re kicking off our eighth year of finalist interviews with Jessie Wynter from Tasmania, one of the twenty-eight talented, and inspiring contestants from all walks of life who are vying for the title of Miss Universe Australia 2019.

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

I am 22 years old from Hobart, Tasmania. I am currently working for a hospitality company and studying my certificates in personal training. I have two younger brothers and a younger sister who are my absolute motivation in life! Being the oldest child in the family I feel a lot of responsibility to be the best role model to my siblings and the people in my life as possible. I am very passionate about encouraging others to love themselves and be as kind to themselves as possible. My friends and family often find me lecturing them about self love and embracing themselves. ? My hobbies include baking (I’m a sucker for cookies), going on long walks, playing sports and spending time with my friends and family.

What would you say was your motivation for entering Miss Universe Australia?

I have followed Miss universe since I was a child and have always looked up to these women so I know how influential the winner of this competition will become to so many people across the globe.

My whole life I have had a general interest in modelling and have wanted to compete in a pageant since I was a kid but never had the courage to enter one as I have always been petite. I am only about 160cms tall and have been told many times that I would never be successful in the modelling industry or in pageants as I’m too short and athletic. After years of holding back I decided that I want to push my boundaries and encourage others to do the same and now I’m in the national finals!

People come in all different shapes and sizes and I hate the thought of someone holding back because they feel like the way the look isn’t enough. If I can make it to national finals then maybe I can give hope to others to get out of their comfort zone and chase their dreams too.

The program is certainly full of amazing experiences in the lead-up to finals, You’ve just returned from the National Finalist Trip to Bali staying at the sensational Alila Hotels. How was this experience?

I am so grateful for the amazing experience. We stayed at three of the most stunning hotels all with a different vibe, each so spectacular and showcasing a different aspect of the Indonesian culture.

The Bali Trip is a combination of finals boot camp, personal development and team bonding exercise with a tropical escape thrown in for good measure, what would you say are some of the best things you’ll take away from the trip?

Money can’t buy what I have learnt from this Bali trip. The bonds and relationships created between the girls and the team is something that will never be able to be replaced.
It was so amazing to be surrounded by a group of people who are so passionate about empowering one and other and I truly wish that every girl could have this experience.
There are many things I’ll take from this trip but the best and most amazing thing I have been able to come home with is confidence in myself.

So now you’re home and, winter has set in and the finals are only just around the corner, how are you feeling in the leadup to Melbourne and what sort of preparation are you doing before finals week?

I’m so excited for nationals however I am so nervous! Whilst I try my hardest to have a balanced nutritious diet and stay active, most of my preparation has been mental preparation.
It’s been a very busy few months and unfortunately these last two weeks I’ve been sick with the flu but I have been doing everything I can to get back to 100%!

In terms of mental preparation each morning I have started my day by using the “I weigh” movement created by Jameela Jamie. This movement is about being proud of what we have achieved, what we do and looking at how amazing we are beyond our physical appearance opposed to measuring our worth by the number on the scales. When I wake up in the morning I pick out 5 things that “I weigh” and that I am proud of.

With so many of you all bringing an individual flair to the competition, what do you think sets you apart from the other contestants?

All the girls are so intelligent and absolutely stunning inside and out. We are all so different.
To be honest, I am still pinching myself that I am actually where I am today! I’m just an everyday Australian girl with the goal to inspire others to be the best versions of themselves and whilst this can be seen as a disadvantage, I think that me being such an everyday girl and me being a lot shorter than the other girls does set me apart. I feel like I am representing those people who have held back from something because they feel like they are not good enough. I have had girls message me saying how they love that there is someone as short as I am competing for Miss Universe Australia as they are also short and have felt like they would never be able to do the things I’m doing!

Your next question comes from Simon Ross of Minespec Parts
If you were lucky enough to receive the Minespec Parts Grant of $20,000 to put towards your education or business startup, what would you spend it on and why?

The $20,000 would be an absolutely amazing contribution to start up my own business! My main goal for my miss universe journey is to inspire others so whether I receive the grant or not I am still so so grateful to be able to take part in this journey!
There are many things going on around Australia and the world that I wish I could help out more. I am very passionate about mental health awareness and believe it is so important for us to look after our mental health and to be able to help others with their mental health.
I would love to be able to get groups of people together to take part in organising charity events and give back to causes that are important to them.
I would be shaping this organisation around the idea “Help yourself by helping others”. When I was struggling with my mental health, I found that as I started to put my time into helping others I started to find motivation to help and improve myself. I would love to pass this message on to others and encourage them to get involved with their community and support causes they are passionate about.

What is something people might find interesting about yourself?

I am a very independent person, and if I want to go somewhere and do something, I’ll find a way to make it happen, even if that means going by myself. A lot of people find it pretty interesting how I am able to do things such as go to events solo. They also find it quite interesting that I am from Tassie and that I travel from state to state so much.

What is the funniest thing that has happened to you or someone you know recently?

I managed to miss a flight the other week by falling asleep at the gate while I was waiting to board! My friends always go on about how I’m such a heavy sleeper and could sleep through anything I was clearly very tired and it wasn’t very funny at the time, but when I called my sister to tell her we couldn’t help ourselves from laughing.

As a child, what did you think would be awesome about being an adult, but isn’t as awesome as you thought it would be?

When I was a child I seriously couldn’t wait to grow up so I could do my own grocery shopping and cook whatever I wanted for dinner!
When I moved out of home I learnt the harsh reality that grocery shopping is not as fun as I imagined and that my mum is a much better cook than I am!
These days I can’t wait for a home cooked meal from mum!

If you could change one thing about your Miss Universe Australia journey what would it be?

Me being the only Tasmanian representative I have felt a little bit left out and really did not know what to expect throughout this journey.
If I were to compete for Miss universe Australia again next year I would definitely use my experience from this year to put my name out there and get much more involved with the sponsor events, the social media side of things and fundraising.
I would have loved to be able to spend a lot more time getting to know the amazing sponsors and the girls.

Jessie is also helping raise money for Toybox International as part of her Miss Universe Journey; Please consider donating by clicking here.



Presenting Sponsor

Minespec Parts


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.

Owen George

Owen George

Editor & Chief of Gold Coast Magazine is a lover of great coffee and sharing the stories of the people, places, and events that make the Gold Coast such a great city

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