Well, it’s that time of year when the search to find Miss Universe Australia is well underway with state finals kicking off across the country.
Starting off our home state interviews is Elise Chambellant one of the contestants who will be competing for a place in the national final held later this year in Melbourne at Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, Wednesday, August 31st, 2016 where the nations finalists will be competing for the title of Miss Universe Australia 2016.

Congratulations on making it so far in the coveted Miss Universe Australia competition tell us a little about yourself..?
Well, I’m a 20-year-old Brisbane girl, born and raised. I’m currently studying my third year of Exercise Nutrition Science at The University of Queensland. I absolutely adore all thing’s nature so in my spare time I love to go hiking and exploring. Health and Fitness are high on the agenda, and I aim to complete my certificate 3 and 4 in fitness within the next three months. I have a passion for acting and modelling and I hope it will allow me to venture overseas and take what I have learnt from my studies with me. I love my quiet family nights spent at home watching movies and cuddling my puppy.

Who or what inspired you to get involved in the Miss Universe Australia pageant?
My beautiful mum is my greatest support and biggest fan. She is an incredibly intelligent and successful woman, and her determination inspires me to be and do better no matter what. Although our interests differ significantly (mum is a barrister, and I am interested in all things health fitness and acting), she has always encouraged me to explore those avenues to the best of my ability and to not hold back for fear of failure or lack of confidence. She was the one to convince me to attend the cocktail selection evening for Miss Universe Australia, and I am so grateful to her for that.

Speaking of inspiration what inspires you most?
Knowing or being close to those people who have had a complicated past and still built a successful career and warm attitude to the people around them genuinely inspires me to push myself. I am so blessed to have been given the family, education and love I still receive to this day. I have known unbelievably special people who at every cruel hurdle could have given up and refused. They have built lives, families and dreams from nothing, and that alone should be enough to make you want to thrive, help others and push to be someone else’s inspiration.

What is something that you hope to bring out of the Miss Universe Australia pageant?
The most important attribute I wish to take away from the Miss Universe Australia pageant is an unwavering self-confidence that allows me to be resilient and determined no matter what pit stops I may face. Without a strong sense of confidence and self-love, I don’t believe we can do our potential best to help those we wish to help. What I want most is to help others and to do this, I must be the strongest version of myself possible which is what the Miss Universe Australia journey is about for me in 2016.

The Miss Universe Pageant has a long history of associating with charity are there any social causes that are particularly close to your heart that you would like to use the platform of Miss Universe to advance?
The health and safety of children in Australia and abroad is something that rocks me to my core. I have and always will completely adore little people. This year I was on my way to a football game, walking alongside the traffic when I heard across three lanes of cars a father screaming at his children and punching the steering wheel of his vehicle. I yelled out to him, and he immediately stopped, aware that someone had spotted him. As I yelled out to him a little girl maybe four at most leant her head forward from the passenger seat to look at me. I mouthed to her “Are you ok? Do you need help?” she nodded her head as if to say “I will be ok” as the traffic began to move again. He was so irate I wondered how they were treated at home if they were safe. I went straight to the police but couldn’t help but feel utterly distraught as though I had failed, or maybe we all had. I won’t ever lose that feeling. You just want to hold kids like that, who are scared, mistreated? But if we can’t do that we must do something? I want to raise awareness about child abuse and ill-treatment. Convince people to speak up about the things they see and make it easier for children in unsafe homes to have access to safe and loving families. It is crushing, and no child should go to sleep at night feeling unloved and insecure. Regardless of their age, geographic or economic background something must be done.

The rivalry between states is sure to be heightened this year why do you think Queensland is the best state to take out Miss Universe Australia?
I adore our Queensland beauties. All stunning, intelligent and driven young ladies who have accomplished and experienced a lot. We are working incredibly hard on our physical fitness collectively that is, in turn, bringing us closer together as friends which make us unstoppable. We are the Sunshine State, and I know it will shine through in the end!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

What is something you find yourself always saying?
“Everything happens for a reason”

How would your closest friend describe you?
“bubbly, protective, driven and a little crazy.”

What are your top three values that you live by?
Always be kind and give love freely; expect nothing in return because karma is precious.
Know that when things aren’t going to plan there is always a reason even if you cannot see it just yet.
It is not how you treat people when you are on top that matters but how you treat people on your darkest days that will count in the end.

Something that makes you stand out from other contestants?
I feel one thing in particular that sets me apart from the other girls is my resilience. I have seen darker days as we all have, but I come back bigger and stronger every time and no matter what, aim to put others happiness before my own. Some people see that as a disadvantage in life, but I hope I never lose that because by putting others first I have found the people in my life who are worth keeping and who will fight to keep me a part of theirs.

What does your current fitness regime look like in the lead up to the state finals ..? My fitness regime is the toughest it has ever been in the lead up to state finals. I am training once and sometimes twice a day. Boxing, personal training, group sessions with the other contestants and plenty of sauna and stretching to keep my muscles from chickening out! Clean eating is a must, but there is still the occasional macadamia and mango Wees bars at night…

Name five things you can’t live without?
My beautiful friends and family
Violet… my child that isn’t human and she needs a line all to herself for this one
Dessert… Any
Rainforest adventures and waterfall hunting
A GOOD EYEBROW BRUSH (use the mascara wands they seem to work the best)

What song would you say is your personal anthem or theme song and why?
“You’re It” By Gabe Bondoc is a beautiful song about your inner child and love. I feel no matter where I am in life or who I am with I am always very loving and bubbly and this song makes me feel all warm inside!