Belinda Green

Last updated

Belinda Green
OAM
Born (1952-05-04) May 4, 1952 (age 72)
NationalityAustralian
OccupationModel
Known for Miss World Australia
Awards Miss World 1972

Belinda Lynette Green OAM (born 4 May 1952) is an Australian model and beauty queen who won the Miss World 1972 contest at the age of 20. [1] She became the second Australian to win the title; the first, Penelope Plummer, was crowned Miss World in 1968. The pageant was held in London, at the Royal Albert Hall. Green's triumph came in a year that saw Australia win the Miss Universe crown, the Miss Asia Pacific title, and placed first runner-up in the Miss International.

Contents

Early life

Rathdowne st, carlton north Rathdowne st, carlton north.jpg
Rathdowne st, carlton north

Green was born in North Carlton, Melbourne, [2] to parents Gwen and Robert. She moved to Sydney in her teen years, after the death of her father in 1959. She grew up in Blacktown in the Western Suburbs of Sydney, [3] and is one of four siblings. [4] Green attended the local public school, along with her siblings in Blacktown. [5] During her teen years, Green worked as a motel cleaner, along with her mother in Nelson Bay, NSW. [6] When Belinda was 18, she was approached by a model scout from Vivien's Models Agency Australia, and was scouted to be a part of their talent roster. Later she signed a modelling contract with the agency. [7]

Pageantry

Royal Albert Hall, London - Nov 2012 Royal Albert Hall, London - Nov 2012.jpg
Royal Albert Hall, London - Nov 2012

Green began her pageantry career in 1972, where she won the title of Miss World, at the age of 20, against 73 other contestants. [8] She was awarded 3000 pounds. The pageant was held in the Royal Albert Hall in London, on December 1. After this win, Actor and comedian Bob Hope invited her to entertain the American troops in Vietnam, during Christmas 1972. [9]

Green continued her pageantry career, being crowned Miss Australia beach girl in 1974, taking place in Perth. In this competition, she was awarded a gold Valiant Charger car. [9] Belinda has not competed in a competition since, however has judged various; including Miss Tasmania (1999), Miss World (2004), and Best dressed tropical lady (2015). [10]

Personal life

During 1978–1979, Belinda travelled aground the United States, and Europe to further her modelling career. [11] Whilst travelling, she modelled for high fashion designers such as Ralph Lauren. [12] During this time, Belinda was linked to singer Rod Stewart, it was never confirmed or denied whether Green and Stewart took part in a relationship. [13] Belinda moved to Los Angeles in 1979, where she lived in a condo in Downtown LA. [14] She pursued various modelling opportunities, and took part in acting classes. After 18 months, Green moved back to Sydney, and moved out of her Blacktown family home. Green then purchased her first home, a unit in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Bellevue Hill. [15]

John Singleton

Green met John Singleton, TV personality and advertising entrepreneur in 1979. Singleton was hosting a late night program for Channel 10 at the time. He convinced the station to hire Belinda as a temporary on-air personality, [16] this was the start of her media career. By 1981, Belinda and Singleton were ‘committed partners’. [17] Green and Singleton took part in "a spiritual commitment ceremony", whilst Singleton and his 2nd wife, Maggie Eckardt's divorce was being settled. [18] Shortly after this, Green and Singleton were legally married in Sydney. Their first daughter, Jessie Singleton, [19] was born in August 1982. Their second daughter, Sally Singleton, was born in October 1984. [20] Green and Singleton sent their daughters to a private school in Sydney for their Junior and High school education. The family moved from Sydney's Eastern Suburbs to Princes Farm on the Hawkesbury in December 1984. [21]

After Singleton was let go from his job at 2KY in April 1985, issues of cash flow and money began to arise. [22] Singleton and Green briefly separated in 1986, with Singleton moving into a hotel in the city. However, a few weeks later, Green moved back into live with Singleton, in a rented home near Hunters Hill. Green and Singleton later officially separated in 1987. [23]

Neville James Browne

Green met Neville James Browne in May 1993, and began living together in November 1993, in Sydney. [24] Browne is an Australian-born businessman and investor, he was born in 1946. He has two sons, from a previous partner [25] By the 18th of December 1993, the couple were married in a Catholic church with a small ceremony. Greens daughters’ Jessie and Sally were living altogether with Browne. [26]

Browne was an entrepreneur, and in 1989 developed a “remote personal training concept”, called the ‘Hayle system’. Upon Brownes’ request, Green became part of the promoting of this business venture, where she worked 18–20 hours weekly, and was the name, face and spokesperson’ of Hayle. [27]

However, the scheme was unsuccessful as in February 1997, operations at Hayle concluded. In turn, Browne lost approximately $A 4M invested into the business. Browne and Green shared a rural property at Cedar Brush Creek, which they sold in 1994. [28]

On 1 January 1997, the two parties separated under the same roof. Shortly after, on 25 January 1997, [29] Belinda and her daughters moved out. On 21 September 1998, property settlement proceedings began, with the Judge awarding Green 36% of the couples net value of $4,039,133, and awarding Browne the remaining 64%. [30] Browne made an appeal on the property settlements in 1999, where the judge agreed to reduce Green's awards to 33 1/3% and increase Browne's to 66 2/3%. [31]

Steve Mason

Following this, Green continued with her acting and media career, meeting her now husband Steve Mason, a car dealership owner in 2002. [32] Together in 2004, they purchased a 50ha farm, Glen Echo, located just outside Cowra. Green and Mason married in 2012, in the country town of Nyngan, during a Desert Duel charity car rally. [33]

Green and Mason share two race horses, that they care for at their Nyngan farm. They race their horses at the nearby race track at Cowra. [34]

Career

Media Work

Green first began her career at age 18, when she was scouted and signed by an Australian modelling agency. [35] For two months in 1989, Green was employed as radio commentator. Following this, she wrote a fortnightly column on beauty for New Idea. [36]

Belinda took part in an interview with Playboy Magazine, in February 1979, where she took part in the ‘20 Questions’ game. This interview was turned into an article, and published in Playboy's monthly magazine. [37] Playboy is an American men's’ entertainment magazine, which regularly features models, actors, actresses and entrepreneurs.

Acting

Following her pageantry and modelling career, Green was featured in a series of television programs. Her first appearance of Australian Television was in 1975, on a reality gameshow, Celebrity Squares. She continued her acting career and featured in 5 episodes of the Australian sitcom, Bobby Dazzler, in 1977, playing the role of Fiona Forbes-Martin. [38] She also was employed on the ‘Midday Show’, in 1991, with her own segment on Fashion, Beauty and Health. She went on to produce 15 episodes of ‘Let’s Get a Life’ for Renaissance Television, a lifestyle program. She also featured as a personality on ‘Good Morning Australia’, in 2003. Green also featured on prime time TV show, “Skating On Thin Ice”, in 2005. [39] Concluding her acting career, she featured in an episode of the Australian reality TV show Beauty and the Geek, in 2009. After her retirement from acting, Green did appear occasionally on television commercials, all within Australia, including advertisements for vitamins and an advertisement for land sale project [40]

Charity work

After moving to Cowra with her now-husband in 2002, Green became a Rural Fire Service first aid officer. Additionally, she became a committee member of the Cowra Jockey Club, as well as a volunteer for Cowra Special Needs Group, and a registered wildlife carer and rescuer in the following years. Green took part in the “Desert Duel” outback car rally adventures, to help promote regional Australian tourism, as well as raise money for Australians in the 2004 Paralympics. [41] Green also became an advocate for Wheelchair Sports NSW, in 2004, and used the ‘Desert Duels’, to raise awareness and funds to support this group. [42] Following this, Green engaged with NSW “Fashions on the Field”, in 2005, selling entry tickets to raise money for the Rural Fire Aid. Green presented her passion for animals and wildlife, through volunteering with W.I.R.E.S Macropods (Kangaroos and Wallabies). [43]

Belinda was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours, for services to the NSW community. [44] [45]

Belinda hosted a charity event, on Melbourne Cup day 2018, in order to raise money for Wheelchair Sports NSW. The event took place at Kareela Golf Club, in Sydney. [46]

Veterinary work

After bringing her sick wallaroo into Dr Ralph's Southern Cross Wildlife Care clinic, in 2011, Green began volunteering at the clinic, washing floors and making coffee. [47] In 2012, she began studying veterinary nursing online at the Southern Cross Wildlife care centre, an animal hospital in Braidwood, to enable her gain the skills needed to assist at the clinic. In 2014, Green became a registered wildlife carer and rescuer, and became a permanent member at Dr Ralph's clinic, acting as a veterinary nurse [48]

Guest speaking

After retiring from modelling altogether in 2000, Green has engaged in a career of public, inspirational speaking. Green talks about a range of topics, however she focuses on addressing the stress, anxieties and pressures of contemporary life, specifically for women [49]

Green has been a guest speaker on several occasions, including in 2006 at The Rotary Clubs conference, the Walbundrie Show Society, the Australian Alpaca Association Ltd, and the AMP Services Conference. [50]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America</span> Annual competition in the United States

Miss America is an annual competition that is open to women from the United States between the ages of 18 and 28. Originating in 1921 as a "bathing beauty revue", the contest is judged on competition segments with scoring percentages: Private Interview (30%) – a 10-minute press conference-style interview with a panel of judges, On Stage Question (10%) – answering a judge's question onstage, Talent or HER Story (20%) – a performance talent or 90 second speech, Health and Fitness (20%) – demonstrated physical fitness onstage dressed in athletic wear, and Evening Gown (20%) – modeling evening-wear onstage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Penny Singleton</span> American actress (1908–2003)

Penny Singleton was an American actress and labor leader. During her 6 decade career on stage, screen, radio and television, Singleton appeared as the comic-strip heroine Blondie Bumstead in a series of 28 motion pictures from 1938 until 1950 and the popular Blondie radio program from 1939 until 1950. Singleton also provided the voice of Jane Jetson in the animated series The Jetsons from 1962 to 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victorian Greens</span> Political party in Australia

The Victorian Greens, officially known as the Australian Greens Victoria, is the Victorian state member party of the Australian Greens, a green political party in Australia.

<i>The Koala Brothers</i> British-Australian childrens television series

The Koala Brothers is a stop-motion animated children's television series, created by David Johnson. It features the adventures of two koala brothers named Frank and Buster, who pilot an aeroplane as they seek to help their friends in a sleepy town in the Australian outback. The series was narrated by Jonathan Coleman. 78 episodes were produced over 3 seasons, alongside one Christmas special.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Motlop</span> Former Australian rules footballer, businessman

Daniel Motlop is a former Australian rules footballer who played a total of 130 senior games for the North Melbourne Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). After leaving the AFL, Motlop played for the Wanderers Football Club in the Northern Territory Football League for some time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Hanson-Young</span> Australian politician

Sarah Coral Hanson-Young is an Australian politician who has been a Senator for South Australia since July 2008, representing the Australian Greens. She is the youngest woman to be elected to federal parliament, winning election at the age of 25 and taking office at the age of 26. She was the youngest person ever elected to the Senate, until Jordon Steele-John was elected in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miss America 1984</span> 57th Miss America pageant

Miss America 1984, the 57th Miss America pageant, was held at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey on September 17, 1983, on NBC Network. Miss America 1983, Debra Maffett crowned her successor, Miss New York 1983, Vanessa Williams of Millwood, New York at the end of the nationally televised event. In July 1984, Williams was forced to resign over the unauthorized publication of nude photographs and was succeeded by first runner-up, Miss New Jersey Suzette Charles, who served as Miss America until September 15, 1984. Among the contestants who did not place among the ten finalists, Miss New Mexico 1983 Mai Shanley, eventually went on to win the Miss USA 1984 pageant on May 17, 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Williams</span> American singer, actress and former Miss America (born 1963)

Vanessa Lynn Williams is an American singer, actress, model, producer, and dancer. She gained recognition as the first Black woman to win the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She would later resign her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs published in Penthouse magazine. Thirty-two years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events.

This article provides information on candidates who stood for the 1996 Australian federal election. The election was held on 2 March 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eugenie Sage</span> New Zealand politician (born 1958)

Eugenie Meryl Sage is a New Zealand environmentalist and former politician. She was a Green Party Member of Parliament in the New Zealand House of Representatives from 2011 to 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Larissa Waters</span> Australian politician (born 1977)

Larissa Joy Waters is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Australian Greens and has served as a Senator for Queensland since 2018. She previously served in the Senate from 2011 to 2017, resigning during the parliamentary eligibility crisis due to her holding Canadian citizenship in violation of Section 44 of the Constitution of Australia. Waters serves as her party's Senate leader, in office since February 2020. She previously served as co-deputy leader from May 2015 to July 2017 and again from December 2018 to June 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christie Whelan Browne</span> Australian actress (born 1982)

Christine Whelan Browne is an Australian performer who has worked extensively in musical theatre as an actress, dancer and singer. She has also appeared on television shows and in films. In March 2012, she married fellow performer, Rohan Browne.

<i>Wife Swap</i> (American TV series) American reality television series (2004–2020)

Wife Swap is an American reality television series based on the British series of the same name that premiered on September 26, 2004. In the program, two families, usually from different social classes and lifestyles, swap wives/mothers – or sometimes husbands – for two weeks. The show originally aired on ABC for six seasons between 2004 and 2010 and was narrated by actor John Schwab.

Carey Ng Sue Mun also known as Carey Ng, is a Malaysian Chinese director, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Malaysia 2013. She represented Malaysia at the Miss Universe 2013 and ended up did not make it to the semifinalists round, this is the 43rd consecutive year Malaysia did not placed in Miss Universe pageant.

Susanne Lynnette Hickey is an Australian politician. She represented the electorate of Denison from the 2018 state election until her defeat at the 2021 election, sitting with the Liberal Party until March 2021, when she quit the party and became an independent. Hickey is currently Mayor of the City of Glenorchy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Williams and Miss America</span> American actress, singer, and fashion designers relationship with the pageant

Vanessa Williams is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. She initially gained recognition as the first African American winner of the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984 in September 1983. Several weeks before the end of her reign, however, a scandal arose when Penthouse magazine bought and published nude photographs of Williams. Williams was pressured to relinquish her title and was succeeded by the first runner-up, Miss New Jersey 1983, Suzette Charles. She was the first Miss America to give up her crown. Thirty-two years later, in September 2015, when Williams served as head judge for the Miss America 2016 pageant, former Miss America CEO Sam Haskell made a public apology to her for the events of 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Brophy</span>

Fred Brophy OAM is an Australian tent boxing promoter who regularly tours around Queensland with the eponymous Fred Brophy's Boxing Troupe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Watson-Brown</span> Australian politician

Elizabeth Watson-Brown MP is an Australian politician and architect who is a member of the Australian Greens, and was elected as the member for the Division of Ryan, Queensland, in the 2022 Australian federal election, defeating Julian Simmonds to win the previously safe Liberal National seat. She is the first woman to represent the Greens in the lower house. She lives in St Lucia and has run her own architectural business in western Brisbane for 21 years.

References

  1. UPI (2 December 1972). "Aussie girl is Miss World". The Bulletin (Bend) . Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2010.
  2. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  3. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  4. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  5. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  6. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  7. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  8. Hinojosa, Magda, and Jill Carle. “From Miss World to World Leader: Beauty Queens, Paths to Power, and Political Representations
  9. 1 2 "Call of the Wild". www.abc.net.au. 2 October 2017. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  10. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014
  11. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  12. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  13. "CCH Pinpoint | Australian Legal Research".
  14. Kolimar, E. Former pageant queen throws on the fascinator for a Melbourne Cup luncheon for Wheelchair Sports NSW.
  15. Kolimar, E. Former pageant queen throws on the fascinator for a Melbourne Cup luncheon for Wheelchair Sports NSW.
  16. “Belinda”. Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  17. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  18. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  19. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  20. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  21. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  22. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  23. “Belinda.” Singo: Mates, Wives, Triumphs, Disasters, by Gerald Stone, HarperCollins, 2002, pp. 40–190.
  24. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.1.
  25. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.1.
  26. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.1.
  27. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.1.
  28. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.1.
  29. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.1.
  30. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.3.
  31. Browne & Green [2007] FamCA 1483 1 (Family Court), p.5.
  32. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  33. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  34. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  35. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014
  36. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014
  37. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014
  38. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  39. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  40. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  41. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  42. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  43. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  44. "Queen's Birthday honours list 2013". The Sydney Morning Herald . 9 June 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2023.
  45. King-O’Riain, Rebecca Chiyoko. “Making the Perfect Queen: The Cultural Production of Identities in Beauty Pageants.” Sociology compass 2, no. 1 (2008): 74–83.
  46. Kolimar, Eva (18 October 2018). "Slipping the heels on again for a charity cup luncheon". St George & Sutherland Shire Leader. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
  47. Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  48. 4Williams, Sue. Outback Heroines: True Stories of Hardship, Heartbreak and Resilience. Penguin Books, 2014.
  49. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
  50. Gorman, Vanessa. “Belinda Green's Call to the Wild: How a Former Miss World Swapped Catwalks for Kangaroos.” ABC, 2 Oct. 2017, www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-02/belinda-greens-call-to-the-wild-as-career/8989406?nw=0.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss World
1972
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Valerie Roberts
Miss World Australia
1972
Succeeded by
Virginia Radinas