Miss World Australia finalists reveal why they prefer activewear over bikinis during competition

Soraiya Fuda, The Daily Telegraph - July 5, 2017 11:00am

FITNESS gear is the new bikini — and this year’s NSW Miss World contestants are stepping up to the sensible activewear switch.

The beauty pageant made the controversial decision to axe the bikini section in 2013, and now one of this year’s finalists says if the swimwear category was still there she wouldn’t bother applying.

The ladies donned their Lululemon gym gear and Ozwear Ugg kicks to prove why fitnness is the new sexy.

The contestants are glad the swimsuit section has been removed from the competition. Picture: Tim Hunter

Miss World finalists from NSW, (L-R) Alexandra Wallace, Kadee Hollis, Lavinia White, Eliza Gray and Alison Mitchell. Picture: Tim Hunter
Hopeful Alison Mitchell, 23, said beauty should not be defined by “how you look like on the beach.”

“Miss World stood out to me because it doesn’t have that swimwear section — I don’t have the confidence to be on show in a bikini. I have previously trained for body building competitions before and I know how toxic that lifestyle is,” she told Confidential.

“I think I would fall into the trap of ‘This is what I’m meant to look like’. I’m 23, I’m still going through body issues.

The girls believe the competition isn’t just about how you look on the beach. Picture: Tim Hunter
“I never considered entering a beauty pageant before but my friends and family were pushing me for it. I’m not tall but I wanted to do it to challenge my own perception of what a model is.”

The ever-changing pageant appears to be a success after Miss World president Julia Morley, coined the phrase Beauty With A Purpose more than 35 years ago.

And although Lavinia White, 22, works as a bikini model on the side, the second-time hopeful said the pageant was more about fitness than looking stunning in a two piece.

“It takes away that element of superficiality,” she said.

Miss World finalists from NSW Alexandra Wallace, Kadee Hollis, Lavinia White, Eliza Gray and Alison Mitchell. Picture: Tim Hunter.
“It also takes away from the body and more about the girl instead of her standing their half naked in a bikini.

“It means the winner is picked based on the girl and who she is instead of her having an amazing body.”

NSW finalists White, Mitchell, Eliza Gray, Alexandra Wallace and Kadee Hollis will battle it out for the crown on July 14 in Melbourne.

So far, more than $US1 billion has been raised for children’s charities across the world.

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