Canberra is definitely punching above its weight with not one but two local finalists vying to be crowned Miss World Australia in Melbourne on Friday night.
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Canberra girls April Goldsby and Kadee Hollis are among the 28 finalists in line for the honour, to be decided at Melbourne's Grand Hyatt Hotel.
The ACT has proven before we can take out the title, with Canberra girl Sophie Lavers crowned Miss World Australia in 2009.
Miss World Australia 2017 will receive an impressive crown from Phuket Pearls valued at $52,000 and be an ambassador for Thailand Tourism, with the prize including a luxury holiday to Thailand.
The winner will also represent Australia in the global competition in China later this year.
Excitement was high among the girls on Thursday as they counted down to the crowning.
April, 18, from Tuggeranong, was representing Victoria in the earlier state finals due to her recent move to Melbourne.
But once she made it to the finals she was able to, officially, represent the ACT.
"I feel really proud to represent Canberra," she said.
"It's been really good. The girls are all lovely. It's been busy with long days but that means we're going to have a good show."
April grew up in Theodore, the middle child of Kim and Brett.
She was just 12 and still a student at St Francis of Assisi Primary School when she started modelling, entering the Miss Country Girl Australia Model Search.
The former Trinity Christian School student will have her mum and step-dad in the audience for the final and is confident she is in with a good chance.
"I'm confident with everything I do," April said. "I always try to put in my best effort."
Kadee Hollis is officially representing NSW, but if she wins the title, the ACT will be claiming her as their own.
The 21-year-old moved to Sydney when she was 18 to pursue acting. But she grew up in Canberra, attending Alfred Deakin High and Narrabundah College.
"It's been amazing, so much fun," she said.
"We've been completely pampered and it's been heaps of fun strutting on the runway."
The girls had not met before but it wasn't long before they established a connection.
"It's pretty funny. Canberra is so small. We've had lots to talk about," Kadee said.
She also believes she is in with a good chance of winning.
"I definitely think so," Kadee said. "It's been such a supportive environment and, regardless of who wins, we will be supporting them all the way."
Kadee is the daughter of Ed Hollis, a well-known local physiotherapist who has worked with the Raiders and Brumbies and is now in England with the Leicester Tigers rugby union team.
He had to stay in England but Kadee's mum Michelle has flown out to see her daughter in the final. Kadee's 85-year-old grandfather will also be in the audience.
"He's lost weight and he's fitting into the tux so it's great," Kadee said, with a laugh.
The contestants have also been raising money for children's charity Variety.
Miss World Australia was able to fundraise more than $290,000 for Variety in just six months.
A change for the competition this year saw the swimsuit section dropped and replaced by the contestants donning activewear.
