It’s that exciting time of year again! We’re chatting with Olivia Allen of Western Australia, 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, Olivia, why don’t you start by telling us a bit about yourself?

My name is Olivia, I’m 21 years old and I’m from Perth, Western Australia. I recently graduated from Curtin University with a degree in Communications, specialising in Public Relations and Web Media. I have also worked in Marketing for my University for the past 2 years.

I absolutely love the world of communications because it allows me to connect with all kinds of people, develop strong relationships, and through my job, I’ve been given the opportunity to learn from a lot of strong, inspiring female leaders in the business world. I am very passionate about fashion and the world of creativity, which has also inspired me to take up modelling over the past year. As someone who is very creative and loves the arts, I really enjoy how the modelling industry allows me to work creatively with a team to express myself in so many unique ways!

What inspired you to take the leap and enter Miss Universe Australia?

A couple of years ago, I went through a challenging time with my mental health, and I didn’t feel good about myself or my life. Since then, I have been on an incredible journey of building back love, trust, and resilience within myself. I can truthfully say I don’t think I’ve ever felt so empowered and so full of spark about my life and the direction it’s headed.

I knew the Miss Universe Australia platform would allow me to continue on this journey towards self-empowerment whilst also giving me a platform to share my story with others and talk about the topics I’m so passionate about, particularly mental health. So far, it has done exactly those things. I feel I have grown so much as a person, and I’ve been able to advocate for things that are close to my heart. It has truly been a life-changing experience that I will always be grateful for.

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?

Getting to travel to Vietnam with VietJet and stay at the incredible Hoiana Resort & Golf was genuinely the experience of a lifetime. The hotel was so gorgeous and had such a warm and homely vibe whilst still being modern and beautifully designed.

Vietnam itself is such a beautiful country, and the people we met were all so friendly and welcomed us into their home with open arms. One of the biggest takeaways from the trip was definitely the amazing generosity and warm spirit of the people.

What would you say was the highlight of the trip?

When I reflect upon the trip, the experience that I think about the most was our visit to Hearing and Beyond, a school that provides education and life skills for children who are deaf and hard of hearing. From the moment we arrived at the school, the children came running over to us with big smiles and warm embraces. They were so excited and so appreciative of our visit.

They seemed to rejoice in how lucky they felt to have us there when in reality, it was us who were the lucky ones. To see how full of joy and cheer these children were despite their circumstances was very inspiring. Connecting with these beautiful kids and being welcomed into their school that day is a moment that I’ll never forget.

Can you describe an experience in Vietnam that pushed you out of your comfort zone?

The entire trip to Vietnam, whilst being such an incredible blessing, was a huge push out of my comfort zone. Travelling outside of the country with a group of people I’d only just met was very scary, especially as I am somewhat of an introvert.

I can say now, having come out the other end, it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. I made so many new, incredible connections, grew so much in my confidence, and felt like I really came out of my shell. Getting to embark on journeys that have allowed me to challenge myself and grow into the person I want to become has definitely been a highlight of my Miss Universe Australia journey.

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?

If I won the Miss Universe Australia title, something that I would tell my younger self is that you are so much stronger and more capable than you ever could have imagined and that you are worthy of the life you dream of. This is something that I would tell any little girl if I had the chance.

When we’re kids, the sky is the limit when it comes to our hopes and dreams. But as we grow older and become more aware of society and our surroundings, we limit ourselves and doubt what we’re capable of achieving. I truly believe that it’s so important that we try our very best not to lose our child-like spark. Once we remember that we are indeed special and that we can achieve anything we set our minds to, that’s when we are able to grow into the person we were always meant to be.

With everyone bringing their own unique flair to the program, what would you say sets you apart from the other contestants?

The other national finalists in this competition are incredibly strong, smart, and inspiring women. I have learnt something unique and valuable from each of them, and I feel so lucky to get to stand alongside them on stage at the National Final in September.

Something that I believe sets me apart, which sounds very cliché, is my heart and my ability to lead with compassion and kindness. I’ve always been someone who feels deeply for others and tries to lend a hand or an understanding ear to anyone who needs one. This quality in me has always empowered me to make strong and meaningful connections and has always allowed me to remain strong in my values as a person. I believe this will continue to guide me down a path that I am proud of for the future.

What’s something about you that people might find surprising?

Something that people often find surprising about me is how culturally diverse my family background is. I’m lucky enough to come from a family of so many different countries and cultures. We have family from Myanmar, Italy, Malta, Argentina, India, the Netherlands, and the list goes on.

The stories from my ancestors and the cultural traditions that have been passed down within my family have really enriched my upbringing and helped shape my identity greatly. Not to mention all of the incredible food at Christmas dinners!

If you could work on any dream project, with no limits on time or resources, what would it be?

If I had unlimited time and resources, something that I would set out to achieve is building my own organisation focused on providing accessible and affordable resources to help others maintain their wellbeing and understand how to navigate their mental health through challenging times.

I believe there are still so many barriers that exist that stop people from being able to talk about their mental health and reach out for help. I would love nothing more than to use my own mental health story to let others know that their feelings are valid and that they aren’t alone in their journey. Having unlimited resources would mean that I could do adequate research, reach out to real professionals, and gather the resources that I would need to allow the organisation to provide the right help to anyone who seeks it.

While unlimited time and resources would definitely help make this project happen a lot faster, I am still determined to work as hard as I possibly can towards it, no matter how challenging it is or how long it takes.

We have a few quick questions to wrap up the interview:

If you could instantly master any skill, what would it be and why?

If I could instantly master any skill, it would have to be meditation. I’ve done so much research and heard so many positive associations with the art of meditation and how it can really help us to slow down and stay present in our busy lives. I do try my best to meditate when I can but often find myself getting distracted, which is an important part of the process. However, to be able to master the skill would be amazing!

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?

The most adventurous thing I’ve ever done would have to be booking tickets to a ski festival in New Zealand without any ski knowledge or experience. I’ve always been someone who thinks everything through thoroughly and steers away from anything that could be considered dangerous, so this was a big step for me.

I absolutely loved the experience! While I fell down a lot and took a few poor souls down with me, it was so much fun putting myself out of my comfort zone and trying something new. I believe it’s the opportunities that scare us that allow us to grow the most and have the most fun along the way.

Do you have a guilty pleasure that you enjoy?

A guilty pleasure of mine would have to be buying a sweet treat for every occasion. If I’m running errands, I buy a coffee to take on the journey. If I just finished my pilates class, I pop into the bakery next door to grab a pastry. If I’m spending a day at the office, you best believe I grab a little chocolate in my break from the café nearby. I can’t help myself when it comes to sweet treats. I really do believe that it’s the little things (like sweet treats) that make life even sweeter!

If you could have any superpower for a day, what would it be and how would you use it?

A superpower that I would love to have is the ability to teleport. I believe that travelling is such a privilege that not everyone gets to experience in their lifetime, and I feel it’s such an important way to grow, learn new skills, and discover different ways of living. To be able to visit the world in an instant would be incredible, and it would also allow me to visit my family that live around the world. It would be such a blessing to be able to connect with my loved ones from around the globe.

Help Olivia and the Miss Universe Australia Finalists Make a Difference

Olivia, 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.

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