The 42-year-old model turned philanthropist pulled on her pointe shoes and a pink polka dot Dolce & Gabbana dress to grace the latest cover of Vogue Australia. The August issue is the 11th time she has appeared on the cover of the style bible, which is published in Australia by the Murdoch-owned News Corp.

“Convincing her to do this cover wasn’t easy. She insisted she needed a good reason to feature, something to celebrate or important to talk about, or a cause she’s passionate about that she wants to bring to the attention of Vogue readers,” editor-in-chief Edwina McCann said.

The photo shoot and accompanying feature outlines Mrs Murdoch’s involvement with the Australian Ballet in her role as deputy chair of the board.

“In every country town there’s a fish and chips shop and a ballet school. We have all these young Australians who are passionate about the performing arts and dance and they dream of communicating and seeing our dancers,” she said.

“We’re lucky to perform at the Opera House and we do tour a lot, but I never want to feel that this company is untouchable to every single Australian, young or old, who wants to see them. People think it’s arts, it’s elite, but we’re for everyone.”

The former face of Estee Lauder and Ralph Lauren also touched on her childhood dream of becoming a ballerina, a dream which was dashed at 17 when she was deemed too tall for a career on stage. She threw out her tights, found a modelling agency and cut her long blonde hair into a pixie crop which soon became her trademark in the fashion world.

“Walking in heels on a runway was a breeze after being en pointe,” she said of her transition from tutus to top model.

While she can still en pointe with the best of them, Mrs Murdoch also pointed out the organisation runs predominately on philanthropic pledges as opposed to the public purse. During her eight-year tenure with the Ballet, Mrs Murdoch has revised the organisation's maternity-leave policy for dancers and secured another three years worth of funding from multinational corporations for in-school dance and movement program Out There.

“We don’t get any special favours from the government. In fact, for a national arts organisation, only 16 per cent of our revenues come from government funding,” she said.

Despite cutting more than $28 million in funding to the Australia Council in this year’s budget, aspiring ballet dancers were the recipient of a $1 million boost from the Abbott government which will be put towards student boarding accommodation.