The second time's a charm for Miss Universe Australia Caris Tiivel who has won the 2016 national crown.
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For the 23-year-old from Perth this year's competition was her second attempt at the title after failing to make it through the initial stages in 2013.
"Not making it through the first time has prepared me better for this year. I've matured a lot in three years," Tiivel told Fairfax Media.
The disappointment of missing out has been replaced with an abundance of success in 2016 for the make-up artist. Earlier this year she was crowned Miss West Coast, one of the most lucrative pageants in Australia. In addition to the title, that was revived in Perth after 31 years, she won a $30,000 home deposit and a brand new Volkswagen Golf on loan to her for a year.
Tiivel works as a model but was drawn to the world of pageantry where she could be herself. After struggling with depression and anxiety in the past, she hopes to continue working with Beyond Blue in the lead-up the international final.
"In the past with modelling it's never been about me as a person. It's good that I can be myself in an arena that allows me to continue to develop as a person," she said.
To prepare for the finale, held in Melbourne on Wednesday, she committed to a weekly fitness regime and "read the newspapers and watched the news everyday" in order to be across current affairs. "My family quizzed me every night about things that were in the news which was the best type of warm up."
Beauty queens wishing for world peace doesn't cut it anymore. During this year's question and answer segment the 30 finalists were asked for their opinion on a variety of topics ranging from female representative in cabinet to marriage equality and drugs in sport. They were also all asked the same question: "How do you define success and how does that impact you."
For Tiivel success would be following in Jennifer Hawkins' steps and taking home the international crown at the finale, that will be held in January at a location yet to be confirmed.
"I would put my entire effort into it. I'd do anything and everything possible to be the best role model I can be for young women," Tiivel said.
