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Miss Universe Australia

National beauty pageant competition in Australia


Summary

National beauty pageant competition in Australia

FieldValue
nameMiss Universe Australia Organization
formation
typeBeauty pageant
headquartersPerth
locationAustralia
membership
languageEnglish
leader_titleDirector
leader_nameTroy Barbagallo
websitemissuniverseaustralia.com

Miss Universe Australia is a national beauty pageant that selects Australia's representative to the Miss Universe.

Organization

Miss Universe is a registered trademark owned by the Miss Universe Organization. It was owned by Donald Trump and NBC from 1996. In 2015, after Trump made statements about illegal aliens from Mexico in his presidential campaign kickoff speech, NBC ended its business relationship with Trump and stated that they will no longer air the pageant, or the Miss USA pageant, on their networks.

Since 1992, Jim Davie, a distributor of swimwear and athletic wear, has also been managing the Miss Australia Awards. In 2002, Davie obtained the licence from the Miss Universe Organisation to select Miss Universe Australia to represent Australia at international Miss Universe pageants. The new national director of the Miss Universe Australia Organisation is Troy Barbagallo of Pink Tank Events. Pink Tank have managed the Miss Universe Western Australia pageant since 2009 and was rewarded for their best in world platform with the national job in February 2016. Barbagallo is also a director of Barbagallo Group, luxury motor vehicle group and The Horologist, a leading luxury watch dealer. Barbagallo founded Box Magazine in 2003.

Miss Universe Australia is held each year to select a young woman to represent Australia at the international Miss Universe pageant. Contestants to the national pageant come from each of the States and Territories of Australia. In 2016 there are over 220 participants in the national pageant of which 30 are competing in the National Final.

History

The international Miss Universe pageants started in 1952. Until 2000, while the Miss Australia Awards were held, the winners of the Miss Australia pageant would normally represent Australia at international Miss Universe pageants, but Australia did not have a representative in each year's event.

In 1952 Leah MacCartney was named as the first Miss Universe Australia. She was Miss Victoria who was later elected as Miss Universe Australia 1952 on 16 June 1952 in Melbourne.

In 1958, an independent pageant selected Miss Universe Australia. Miss Universe Australia partnered to Australian Photographic Agency (APA).

In 1964 and 1965, Miss Universe Australia was selected by the Agency casting in Melbourne.

Between 1968 and 1976, winners of Quest of Quests Dream Girl Australia represented Australia at Miss Universe.

Between 1977 and 1990, the winners of Miss Australia Beauty or Miss Universe Australia by TVW Enterprises represented Australia at Miss Universe.

There was no Australian entrant to the Miss Universe pageant in 1991 and 2001. In 2002 through 2004, the Australian representative to the Miss Universe pageant was chosen by a national pageant held in Sydney, organised by Adpro Management Group.

The national Miss Universe Australia pageant came under new management in 2005. Of the 307 who participated at the state level, 24 made it to the national pageant, and Michelle Guy became Miss Universe Australia 2005.

There have been two Miss Universe title holders representing Australia: Kerry Anne Wells in 1972 and Jennifer Hawkins in 2004. Welles entered the Miss Universe pageant as Miss Australia; Hawkins was chosen Miss Universe Australia and went on to win the Miss Universe title in Quito.

New owner

In February 2016, was announced that the new director of Miss Universe Australia is Troy Barbagallo, appointed by IMG.

''The Road to Miss Universe Australia''

The Road to Miss Universe Australia is a television special that is broadcast on Channel 9 & 9Life. It is produced by Mathew Knight Media in partnership with Pink Tank Events.

International crowns

  • TwoMiss Universe winners:
    • Kerry Anne Wells (1972)
    • Jennifer Hawkins (2004)

Titleholders

  • : Declared as Winner
  • : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
  • : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  • : Ended as special awards winner ::On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
YearStateMiss Universe AustraliaPlacement at Miss UniverseSpecial awardsTroy Barbagallo (PinkTank Events PTY Ltd.) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 20162025202420232022202120202019201820172016Deborah Miller directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2005―201520152014201320122011201020092008200720062005Jim Davie and Sydney (Adpro Management Group) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2002―2004200420032002Jim Davie directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1992―2001200019991998199719961995199419931992TVW Enterprises directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1977―199019901989198819871986198519841983198219811980197919781977Waltons, a Sydney Department directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1968―1976197619751974197319721971197019691968Moomba Festival Melbourne directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1964―196519651964Australian Photographic Agency directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe in 19581958Bernard Dowd (Dowd Associates) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1953―195419541953Miss Victoria Foundation directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe in 19521952
QueenslandLexie BrantUnplaced
QueenslandZoe CreedUnplaced
VictoriaMoraya Wilson2nd Runner-up
New South WalesMonique RileyTop 16
VictoriaDaria VarlamovaUnplaced
VictoriaMaria ThattilTop 10
VictoriaPriya SerraoUnplaced
New South WalesFrancesca HungTop 20
South AustraliaOlivia RogersUnplaced
Western AustraliaCaris TiivelUnplaced
New South WalesMonika RadulovicTop 5
New South WalesTegan MartinTop 10
VictoriaOlivia WellsUnplaced
Western AustraliaRenae Ayris3rd Runner-up
Western AustraliaScherri-Lee BiggsTop 10
QueenslandJesinta Campbell2nd Runner-up
Queenslandtitle=Townsville model Rachael Finch crowned Miss Universe Australiaurl=http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/04/23/50245_hpphoto.htmlaccess-date=13 February 2011newspaper=Townsville Bulletindate=23 April 2009}}3rd Runner-up
New South WalesLaura DundovicTop 10
QueenslandKimberley BusteedUnplaced
Erin McNaughtUnplaced
Western AustraliaMichelle GuyUnplaced
New South Walestitle=Miss Australia, Crowned Miss Universe(R) 2004 During Live NBC Telecast On June 1url=http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-404978/Miss-Australia-Crowned-Miss-Universe.htmlaccess-date=13 February 2011date=2 June 2004agency=PR Newswire}}Miss Universe 2004
New South WalesAshlea TalbotUnplaced
QueenslandSarah DaviesUnplaced
Did not compete in 2001}}
New South WalesSamantha FrostUnplaced
New South WalesMichelle SheadUnplaced
VictoriaRenee HendersonUnplaced
New South WalesLaura CsortanUnplaced
New South WalesJodie McMullenUnplaced
New South WalesJacqueline ShooterUnplaced
QueenslandMichelle van EimerenUnplaced
QueenslandVoni DelfosTop 6
QueenslandGeorgina DenahyTop 10
Did not compete in 1991}}
New South WalesCharmaine WareUnplaced
New South WalesKaren WendenUnplaced
New South WalesVanessa Lynn GibsonUnplaced
New South WalesJennine LeonarderUnplaced
New South WalesChristina BucatUnplaced
QueenslandElizabeth BowlyUnplaced
VictoriaDonna RudrumUnplaced
New South WalesSimone CoxUnplaced
Western AustraliaLou-Anne RonchiUnplaced
New South WalesKaren SangUnplaced
VictoriaKatrina RoseUnplaced
Western AustraliaKerry DunderdaleUnplaced
VictoriaBeverley PinderUnplaced
VictoriaJill Maree MinahanUnplaced
New South WalesJulie Anne Ismay4th Runner-up
New South WalesJennifer "Jenny" MatthewsUnplaced
VictoriaYasmin May NagyTop 12
QueenslandSusan MainwaringUnplaced
Western AustraliaKerry Anne WellsMiss Universe 1972
New South WalesToni Suzanne Rayward1st runner-up
New South WalesJoan Lydia Zealand2nd runner-up
New South WalesJoanne Barrett2nd runner-up
New South WalesLauren JonesUnplaced
Did not compete between 1966—1967}}
VictoriaPauline VereyTop 15
VictoriaMaria "Ria" LuybenUnplaced
Did not compete between 1959—1963}}
South AustraliaAstrid LindholmUnplacedMost Popular Girl
Did not compete between 1955—1957}}
New South WalesShirley BlissUnplaced
New South WalesMaxine Morgan4th runner-up
VictoriaLeah McCartneyUnplaced

State rankings

StateTitleYear
New South Wales271953, 1954, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022
Victoria141952, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1998, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
Queensland111973, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2024, 2025
Western Australia61972, 1979, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016
South Australia31958, 1982, 2017
Capital Territory12006

References

Sources

References

  1. Stanhope, Kate. (29 June 2015). "NBC Cuts Ties With Donald Trump die "Derogatory Statements," Pulls Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
  2. The age, 25 May 2005: [http://newsstore.theage.com.au/apps/viewDocument.ac?page=1&sy=age&kw=Jim+Davie+&pb=all_ffx&dt=selectRange&dr=entire&so=relevance&sf=text&sf=headline&rc=10&rm=200&sp=nrm&clsPage=1&docID=SAG050529GB78Q4IV2U8 Beauty quests looking more attractive]
  3. The Age, 9 June 2006: [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/06/09/1149815292859.html?page=fullpage Who's a pretty girl, then?]
  4. (2 June 1952). "Elwood model is 1952 Miss Victoria". [[The Sun News-Pictorial]].
  5. (17 June 1952). "Miss Victoria wins Miss Australia". [[The Sun News-Pictorial]].
  6. Clarke, Jenna. (10 February 2016). "Miss Universe Australia announces new boss Perth businessman Troy Barbagallo".
  7. (16 August 2025). "Lexie Brant Crowned Miss Universe Australia 2025".
  8. George, Owen. (5 September 2024). "Zoe Creed crowned Miss Universe Australia 2024".
  9. (23 April 2009). "Townsville model Rachael Finch crowned Miss Universe Australia". [[Townsville Bulletin]].
  10. (2 June 2004). "Miss Australia, Crowned Miss Universe(R) 2004 During Live NBC Telecast On June 1".
  11. (17 September 1973). "Girl takes three beauty titles". [[The Canberra Times]].
  12. (22 July 1974). "WORLD NEWS: Crowned". [[The Canberra Times]].
  13. (4-10 October 1972). "THE QUEST OF QUESTS".
  14. (23 July 1972). "WORLD NEWS: FILIPINO GIRL WINS CONTEST". [[The Canberra Times]].
  15. (29 September - 5 October 1971). "REPRESENTING AUSTRALIA".
  16. (31 July 1972). "Kerry is top beauty". [[The Canberra Times]].
  17. (13 November 1970). "BEAUTY QUEENS HERE FOR FLORAL FESTIVAL FINALE". [[The Queanbeyan Age]].
  18. (26 July 1971). "WORLD NEWS". [[The Canberra Times]].
  19. (16 October 1969). "Miss World is not sure". [[The Canberra Times]].
  20. (17 October 1968). "MISS WORLD AT WALTONS CANBERRA EXCLUSIVELY! FRIDAY". [[The Canberra Times]].
  21. (21 July 1969). "Australian No 3 for Miss Universe". [[The Canberra Times]].
  22. (19-25 June 1968). "What people are wearing in SYDNEY: AT A CHARITY LUNCHEON".
  23. (10 July 1965). "Melbourne's Moomba Queen". [[The Canberra Times]].
  24. (23 July 1965). "Beauties". [[The Canberra Times]].
  25. (16 July 1964). "Moomba". [[The Canberra Times]].
  26. (1 August 1964). "Cables in brief: Beauty". [[The Canberra Times]].
  27. (23 May 1954). "N.S.W. girl wins Quest". [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
  28. (29 May 1953). "N.S.W. Teenager Crowned Miss Australia: Miss Maxine Morgan Chosen Miss Australia". [[The Age]].
  29. (18 July 1953). "NSW girl 5th in world quest". [[Sunday Mail (Adelaide).
  30. (17 June 1952). "Victorian, Leah McCartney Is 'Miss Australia'". [[The Newcastle Sun]].
  31. (18 June 2010). "Here's Miss Universe Australia 2010 - Jesinta Campbell". [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).
  32. (22 April 2007). "Beauty stunned by win". [[Sunday Herald Sun]].
  33. (10 June 2006). "Meet the new Miss Australia". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
  34. (2 April 2005). "WA woman to represent Australia for Miss Universe". [[ABC News (Australia).
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