Only five years ago, a 10-year-old Aurora Payne began competing in pageants.
Now, the teenager from Woodridge is Teen Miss Universe Australia in the Face Australia pageant, and is preparing to represent the country on the world stage.
Next year, Miss Payne will compete in the Miss Teen Universe International in the Philippines, alongside winners of the same pageant from their respective countries.
Her mother, Aingel McLeod, who also competes in pageants, said the discipline was misunderstood.
“Everyone thinks that to compete in pageants you need to meet this one beauty standard and be the most beautiful or have the most money or the most glorious outfits, but you really don’t,” Ms McLeod said.
Often, to participate in pageants, contestants are required to complete a set number of community service hours in order to register for the event, Ms McLeod said.
In the past, Miss Payne has raised money for charity at the Kingston Butter factory markets, set up recycling drives, and met with local councillors to engage with the community.
“Pageant organisers want people to be engaged in their community because they want people to give back to their communities,” Miss Payne said.
“It’s not all about how you look; it’s about how you carry yourself, your confidence, and pride in yourself.
“They’re trying to break the stigma that’s attached to pageants where it’s seen as a toxic thing.”
Miss Payne and Ms McLeod said last weekend’s the Face Australia event in Melbourne was the best pageant they’ve attended, due to the kindness they experienced from other entrants.
It was there Miss Payne was crowned Teen Miss Universe Australia.
“I became friends with so many girls who were so lovely and welcoming to me, because I was one of the only people to fly down from Queensland,” Miss Payne said.
On the day, Miss Payne competed in two events, evening wear and a ‘Day of the Dead’ event, where Miss Payne wore a dress she had made over two weeks, with help from her mother.
“It was absolutely an amazing event, it was the best pageant that we’ve ever been to,” Ms McLeod said.
Next year’s pageant in the Philippines won’t be the first time Miss Payne’s passion for modelling and fashion has taken her overseas.
Last year, she was invited to attend and ‘walk’ in a fashion show at New York Fashion Week by an Australian fashion designer, Fierce and Flawless.
“She ended up walking for a handful of other designers, but the biggest American designer she walked for was Marc Defang,” Ms McLeod said.
“She did two walks with him, and on the second walk, he chose her to close the show with him.”
The date and events of the Miss Teen Universe International pageant are yet to be confirmed, but Miss Payne said she would prepare in the spare time she has, not spent at school or working at her part-time job.
“I’ll spend at least an hour every day practicing, whether it’s just my walk or how I smile and whether I’m carrying myself with confidence,” she said.
“Then we’ll prepare the outfit, and as well as I’ll practice my walk to make sure I’ve got a nice walk on stage.”
