Two years today from the date but anyway, buckle up babies because this one was a bloody good one! I had some amazing experiences throughout a whole week at National finals for Miss International Australia 2019 🇦🇺
Leading up to the pageant we raised funds and awareness for ovarian cancer specifically a program called ‘Teal the Beat.’ All us contestants created a video montage showing our supporting in teal to promote our cause. We also participated in the world kindness challenge involving small acts of kindness daily. I adored this challenge and we never realise even then smallest kind gestures can really brighten another’s day and it’s just a heart warming feeling 💓
I’ve found different Pageant systems may support different foundations and charities, this has made me aware of some of these causes I may not have known about otherwise. I love how we can then promote the awareness and make more people conscious of the statistics and can help support those who struggle with these realities.
This group of girls were all so lovely and fun, we had such an awesome week and I learnt and came away with so much.
Our pageant support coaches for the week were Miss Progress International 2017 & Miss Progress Philippines 2019 and these too girls were absolutely amazing to say the least!
Our first day kicked off with a boot camp gym and boxing session which was extremely exhausting for my not so fit self but I was the only girl to complete the gym monkey bar trail so hey can’t be too bad! 😏 minus the hyperventilation I was disguising by sculling water and glowing red forehead. We then got dolled back up (mostly from needing too) for orientation where we all got tiaras and began a walking and posing workshop with the queens. This was soo insightful as the girls did not hold back on critics and were persistent with us until we got it right. This was all followed up by a beautiful traditional filipino dish that had me wishing for a never ending bowl and after this karaoke comp!
Day ✌️ started with a valley park visit where we saw the little piggies 🐷 and cute little veggie gardens and got magnificent mountain view group photo shoots. We left here for our second venue wine tasting at the Hunter Valley vineyards 🍷 although not the biggest enthusiast it was such a great time and the host was awesome! We spent the afternoon at a local soup kitchen helping to dish out meals and bearing gifts which were more than appreciated! The soup kitchen is run my a local mother daughter duo doing the whole operation of their own back and relying on donations from the community. Such a heart warming and inspiring place! Myself growing up in and out of safe houses and tough situations knowing there are people out there assisting without judgment to those less fortunate gives me such a warm sense as sometimes it can feel shameful or embarrassing to go and ask for help but life isn’t easy and not everyone has the same open doors or reaching arms, the world is unpredictable and you never know when your circumstances might strain, remain humble. We all need to do our part no matter how small to help these establishments as everyone deserves help.
Back to pageant week, we got to spend the next day at the hunter valley zoo!! It was a beautiful set up, we even got to pat a koala 🐨 got group shots with the lion standing in the background 🦁 feed and pat and emus and kangaroos 🦘
We followed this up with rehearsals! Dreaded rehearsals I tell you we put our heels 👠 on and started around 1pm where we didn’t woo up until 11pm! My feet were killing 🔥 I wasn’t even sure how I was going to compete the following day!
Competition day was another day of rehearsals.. we started at 8am and finished around 2:30 3pm so we could start getting all dolled up for the night which commenced at 6pm having to be ready and returned by 5:30pm. One thing about pageant is time schedules are TIGHT.
I was feeling all the confidence putting aside the burning pain in my feet and the fact that it’s was 3 degrees in the middle of winter 🥶 Our first on stage moment was a gown parade where we all marched one by one in a sequence line. After we had an opening number where we entered the crowd dancing before headed to stage and performing a whole routine in masquerade style outfits with hand held flare fans. Next up was bikini shoot which of course we pretended not to be cold although also had to do name announcements in the attire and I could feel my body cold as a stone with my teeth not wanted to seperate whilst talking!
Lastly was back into our gowns for evening gown walks and well of course it me!
In the change room which was a underground bowls green by the way, popping on my gown bug unlucky trying to get the zip up, i ask the girl beside me hey can you pretty please help me zipper up? She then proceeds to pull to which the thing ain’t budging, I’m like cool I’ll get some hairspray, still not coool. After some fiddling and the next girl joining, we all start being rushed as the time is now I begin to freak! Miss Progress Philippines comes to join the fun and we all begin to stick pins in my back and safety pin the bell out of it. Everybody like you for this 💪
We head out in formation, the music starts, my pins start popping the girl behind me tries to adjust to which her hands are in absolute shakes under pressure the girl behind her swiftly takes over to success we all keep headed acting 🎭 like there ain’t no problem or at least I am! My moment comes I step up on stage and the moment I do I feel the domino effect of pins down my back unravel, being strapless and fined on live television and minus degrees I was not letting my Tatas free! I awkwardly held myself and walked myself around, it was so disappointing as the dress was stunning and completely covering in sparkles and would have looked amazing given the chance to show it off properly! See below my awkward stage stance 📸
Although coming home with no crowns and a blooper dress, I had an incredible week, meet awesome girls, had my great grandma, grandma, Mum and Aunty join in the crowd which made the experience all the more special and unforgettable!
Ever thought about competing in a pageant?
Thank you for reading lovelies 💖 xoxo Bree
BeeKayMit 