The newly crowned Miss World Australia ACT returned from the national finals in the Hunter Valley last week, where she competed against 44 finalists from around the country.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I loved every minute of it," she said.

Courtney Thorpe from Queensland was crowned the Miss World Australia 2014 winner, and she will head to London at the end of the year to compete for the world title.

For Kate, she now holds her title for the next 12 months and is looking forward to making the most of it.

"I will be supporting Courtney, however also doing a lot of charity work within Canberra, so really promoting the brand of Miss World Australia, along with helping out our local community," she said.

While she’s passionate about raising funds for charities and doing good for others, Kate admits she’s also a bit taken with her new sash and tiara.

"I think for the first week I wore it everywhere. You just can’t even describe what it’s like to actually receive awards like that," she said.

"The tiara is stunning – it just glimmers all the time."

Fresh from winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, Canberra Hockeyroo player Anna Flanagan looks like she could take out yet another title.

Cosmopolitan magazine has announced 80 finalists across 10 categories in their Fun, Fearless Female Awards – a competition that celebrates "outstanding achievement in the field of female awesomeness".

Sportsbet has placed Anna as a $3 favourite in the "sportswomen" field. Also in the same category is local BMX and mountain bike cyclist Caroline Buchanan, plus winter Olympics golden girl and Cooma local Torah Bright.

Sunrise co-host Samantha Armytage, who called the nation’s capital home for a number of years, is also a nominee, in the TV Personality category.

Voting is open to the public online until September 15, with the top three nominees in each category going through to the final round of judging.

Melbourne band the Cat Empire is hitting the road next month – and they’re looking for a musician from each state (and territory) to join them on stage.

At each of their shows on the tour, the band will choose a local musician to perform as part of the Cat Empire, including their Canberra show at the UC Refectory on October 17.

It doesn’t matter what your musical talent is, be it playing an instrument or singing – all talents and abilities are able to enter.

If you think you’ve got what it takes, put together an audition video of up to two minutes, and head to thecatempire.com. Entries close September 5.

The Cat Empire play at UC Refectory on October 17. All ages. Tickets from thecatempire.oztix.com.au.

The man whose magnificent beard has been officially deemed best-in-show drew inspiration from loyalty to a struggling family, but has come to appreciate his mane as a "chick magnet".

Jason McCormack from Dunlop and a member of the Canberra Beard and Moustache Club, had tears in his eyes when he won the Canberra’s Best Beard competition at King O’Malley’s on Thursday night.

But for Mr McCormack, the victory was about much more than bragging rights and a $500 prize.

The Dunlop man decided to grow his beard to raise money for his friend’s two-year-old son Hamish, who has been fighting leukaemia for more than a year.

"His parents have both stopped working to be with Hamish 24/7 as they fight the good fight against childhood leukaemia," he said.

Fresh with his bearded bragging rights, Mr McCormack will now hold a "Shave or Save" event at King O’Malley’s on Friday afternoon to continue helping a family he holds close to his heart.

"I was originally going to just shave it off for fund-raising but one of my colleagues said 'I’d pay money for you to save that,' " he said.

Now, whoever donates the most money to young Hamish’s family on Tuesday will have the final say on whether he keeps his mane, or shaves it off.

"Even if I shave the beard next week I can grow it back. Some people with cancer never get that second chance," he said.

And while McCormack is willing to obey the orders of whoever holds the conch come Tuesday, he said he’ll miss the celebrity his beard has brought him. Especially with the ladies of Canberra.

"Girls just want to plait it and touch it," he said.

"I’m just a life support system for my beard. It’s a chick magnet, mate."

Mr McCormack said his beard has contributed to his recent success on a notorious social dating application.

"I’ve recently got onto Tinder in the last couple of hours and I’m getting hammered – it’s all about the beard, I tell you," he said.

"Beards are so in right now."

Save or Shave will be held at King O’Malley’s on Friday 15 August at 2.30pm.

Wednesday night saw the season finale, and possible last episode ever, of Offspring, and many were happy to see (spoiler alert) Nina end up with Canberra’s Patrick Brammall, who plays Leo.

Patrick joined the show this season, after one of the show’s stars and fellow Canberra alumni, Matthew Le Nevez who played the beloved Patrick Reid, was killed off last season.

This year, Matthew has been dividing his time between LA and Australia and, together with his partner Michelle Smith, welcomed son Levi Le Nevez. And now, it’s been announced he’ll be heading to Tasmania next month to film The Kettering Incident for Foxtel.

Matthew will play a police detective in the eight-episode drama.

Don a bow tie and take a stand against human trafficking on Thursday at the Loft at Duxton for Stella Fella. The campaign is a collaboration between Australian anti-human trafficking charity Project Futures Ltd and the Salvation Army to recognise Australian men committed to protecting and valuing all women while raising vital funds and awareness to combat human trafficking. The event kicks off at 6.30pm. Tickets are $45 and you can also purchase bow ties and pocket hanks. For more visit stellafella.com.