Today we are talking with Summah-Taylor from NSW one 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 Summah-Taylor, why don’t you tell us about yourself?
I’m a Certified Holistic Health Coach and reside in the beautiful Byron Bay. I am an advocate for mental health awareness and strive to provide more education and support available around this issue through a more holistic approach.
I am passionate about personal development and visualisation. I love travelling and immersing myself into new cultures and places; I think that comes with being a Sagittarius.. after all, we are travellers and philosophers of the zodiac. I consider myself to be a bit of a dreamer which ties in with my curiosity for life.
I hope to be recognised as a woman who displays selfless acts of kindness and generosity and travels the world doing philanthropic work.
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?
Before entering Miss Universe Australia, I paused on the idea for a long time, due to my personal struggles with acne. That voice inside your head that tells you, “you’re not good enough” or “they would never pick you” crippled me for years. Instead of continuing to be my own victim and put myself through the constant comparison of others, I decided to change my way of thinking and use my struggles as a strength instead of a weakness.
My acne may have affected me physically, but I had the chance to change what it was doing to me mentally. I want to inspire young women to go after whatever it is they desire, no matter what flaws or imperfections be present. The winner of Miss Universe Australia should be relatable and to be relatable means to experience and understand what others may be going through. So, long story short, my struggles motivated me to enter Miss Universe Australia. Most importantly, it has inspired me to focus on getting this important message out there to young women, you are perfectly imperfect and may you see your flaws as a strength, not a weakness.
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?
It has been a challenging year for many, and my heart goes out to our fellow Victorians and anyone who has been directly affected by Covid and the Australian bushfires earlier this year. I like to broaden my perspective on any given situation, which I have no control over; I find that behind every challenge life throws at us, lies growth. I have found this year to be one of the most rewarding, I know it sounds
crazy, but I learnt a lot about myself and feel that I have become more aligned with who I am and what I want for the future.
Of course, not seeing my family who are stuck in Melbourne has been challenging, but I took it upon myself to use this time away from them to focus on ME and being in the present moment. I genuinely believe that the most significant investment you can make in life, is the one you make in yourself, and I know that I invested a lot of my time doing exactly that.
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?
I like to think that what separates me from the other contestants is my energy and way of thinking. My philosophy on life is to be open to all perspectives and possibilities. I don’t care to be right, but to be understanding.
I believe that if you have the ability to make someone feel safe enough to be themselves in a world that is always telling us not to be, then you’ve got something special to share. The personal struggles that I have experienced give me a story to tell, but it’s how I choose to share and embody it, that makes me unique.
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?
Before the current COVID climate, I wanted to use the $20,000 directly on my education to study Journalism. I would still love to fulfil this, however, since, I have discovered my interest and passion in personal growth and self-development.
So, I would like to use the money to create an online platform for educating and supporting women to become the best version of themselves. The tools required to transform your life come from within, but it helps to have a network of women who are on the same journey supporting you along the way.
First thing you will do when this pandemic ends?
I haven’t seen my family in almost a year since the pandemic hit and I miss them terribly. I’m located in Byron Bay and my family live down in Melbourne, so the first thing I’ll be doing is booking a flight to Melbourne!
Place you will hope to travel to next?
A place I had intended on travelling to this year was Italy. I love the culture, food and romance Italy embodies and I can’t wait to immerse myself in it.
Have you taken up a new hobby, skill or learnt a new dish during lockdown?
I haven’t necessarily taken up a new hobby or skill but something I have focused more of my time and attention on is meditation. My philosophy on life is all about being open. The pandemic has really shifted my perspective on the way we respond and adapt to things that are out of our control. Meditation, specifically, has helped me slow down my thoughts and challenge my mind to a new way of thinking and living. It’s been a rewarding experience, and it’s definitely something I hope to share with others.
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.