MUA 2020 VIC State Finals

Sunday, 1st of March saw the Miss Universe Victoria State Final take place at the epic Sofitel Melbourne on Collins. Hosted by Priya Serrao and Sophia Barbagallo the State’s Finalists vied for a spot in the National Final. The evenings presentations saw seven girls selected as National Finalists for 2019. Brooke McAuley, Daria Varlamova, Hanan Ibrahim, KristenCzysek, MariaThattil were all selected as National Finalists.

BROOKE MCAULEY - @brookemcauley_
AGE: 27
OCCUPATION: Model and Creative Director
ABOUT ME: “Hi there! My names Brooke, I’m a Melbourne girl working as a model and creative director. I've recently retired from my career as a professional Ballet dancer, after 20 years in the industry, which gave me incredible opportunities throughout Europe and Australia. I feel most inspired when traveling and experiencing different cultures around the world, which lead me to becoming involved with the ‘Growing Through Education Foundation’, a non for profit organisation who help to empower communities in India out of poverty through education.”

DARIA VARLAMOVA - @dazvarlamova
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: Business Consultant and Model
ABOUT ME: “I was born in Bryansk, Russia and moved to Australia at age 8. While completing my Bachelor in Commerce, I worked as a disability support worker for a few years. One of the highlights for me has been assisting a young woman living with a disability to launch her own jewellery business. I currently do consulting work for small businesses and it is my mission to help women that come from hardship to connect and find purpose and fulfilment through a business they love.”

HANAN IBRAHIM - @iamxanaan
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Radiation Therapist
ABOUT ME: "I am a dreamer, strong and passionate. My goal is to inspire young people all over the world, despite what they look like, where they come from and what they believe: to live in their truth. I want to empower young women to be uncompromisingly themselves and be shameless about it. We are the universe in ecstatic motion so we should never let societies expectations of who we should be, make us feel small. I live in Melbourne and work as a Radiation Therapist and also model whilst keeping a healthy foot in the world of politics and global issues. The one thing I’m most proud of is my ability to move beyond labels. I am not what you think I am and I love that for me."

KRISTEN CZYSZEK - @kristen_czyszek
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Asia-Australia Youth Programs Coordinator
ABOUT ME: “I am an International Business graduate and aspiring linguistic. I currently work with schools across Australia and the Asian region to deliver youth programs that amplify students’ intercultural skills and mindsets.I have spent the past few years living in China studying Mandarin. I hope to use these skills and experience to inspire young people to learn more about our world and diverse cultures. My life mantra is to ‘be someone that makes everyone feel like a someone’.”

MARIA THATTIL - @mariathattil
AGE: 26
OCCUPATION: Talent Acquisition Partner and Digital Content Creator
ABOUT ME: “Born and bred in the cultural hub of Australia - Melbourne - with a big appetite for life and a believer in possibilities. I have degrees in Psychology and Management, but I'm an insatiable book worm and love to study the mind, mental resilience and human potential. I'm passionate about empowerment, inclusivity and self-love and this has fuelled my advocacy, influenced the evolution of my social platform as a source of motivation and positivity, and inspired my charitable pursuits. It's rare that you don't find me laughing and in my down-time, you can find me snuggling my dog or indulging my sweet tooth with a spoonful of Nutella.”

VIC STATE FINAL COCKTAIL PARTY