By Benjamin Millar
Five Victorian finalists will vie for top honours at next month’s Miss World Australia pageant after winning their way through the state final held in Maidstone on Sunday.
Held at White Night Receptions on Sunday, pageant contestants included a scientist who specialises in environmental research and volunteers in marine conservation; a young doctor who battled for 11 years to gain Australian citizenship; and a woman who cares for her sister who suffers from multiple mental and intellectual disorders.
The judging panel included fashion designer Jannifer Wu, celebrity dentist Dr Dee from Vogue Dental Studios, celebrity hairdresser Mario Fallace and Miss World Australia national director Deborah Miller.
The five finalists selected to represent Victoria in next month’s national final were Amber Sidney, Clara Momesso, Moktika Tandon, Daria Varlamova and Ashlyn Paraskevas.
The glittering final well be held at the Palazzo Versace hotel on Queensland’s Gold Coast.
Past winners of Miss World, the largest pageant on the planet, have included Baywatch movie star Priyanka Chopra and Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai.
All Miss World contestants fundraise for children’s charity Variety, last year raising more than $300,000.
