Miss Universe Australia

For the most recent competition, see Miss Universe Australia 2023.

Miss Universe Australia Organization

Formation	1952;73 years ago (1952)
Type	Beauty pageant
Headquarters	Perth
Location	Australia
Membership	Miss Universe
Official language	English
Director	Troy Barbagallo
Website	missuniverseaustralia.com

Miss Universe Australia is a national beauty pageant that selects Australia's representative to the Miss Universe.

Organization

Miss Universe is a registered trademark owned by the Miss Universe Organization. It was owned by Donald Trump and NBC from 1996. In 2015, after Trump made statements about illegal aliens from Mexico in his presidential campaign kickoff speech, NBC ended its business relationship with Trump and stated that they will no longer air the pageant, or the Miss USA pageant, on their networks. ^[1]

Since 1992, Jim Davie, a distributor of swimwear and athletic wear, has also been managing the Miss Australia Awards. ^[2] In 2002, Davie obtained the licence from the Miss Universe Organisation to select Miss Universe Australia to represent Australia at international Miss Universe pageants. ^[3] The new national director of the Miss Universe Australia Organisation is Troy Barbagallo of Pink Tank Events. Pink Tank have managed the Miss Universe Western Australia pageant since 2009 and was rewarded for their best in world platform with the national job in February 2016. Barbagallo is also a director of Barbagallo Group, luxury motor vehicle group and The Horologist, a leading luxury watch dealer. Barbagallo founded Box Magazine in 2003.

Miss Universe Australia is held each year to select a young woman to represent Australia at the international Miss Universe pageant. Contestants to the national pageant come from each of the States and Territories of Australia. In 2016 there are over 220 participants in the national pageant of which 30 are competing in the National Final.

History

The international Miss Universe pageants started in 1952. Until 2000, while the Miss Australia Awards were held, the winners of the Miss Australia pageant would normally represent Australia at international Miss Universe pageants, but Australia did not have a representative in each year's event.

In 1952 Leah MacCartney was named as the first Miss Universe Australia. She was Miss Victoria ^[4] who was later elected as Miss Universe Australia 1952 on 16 June 1952 in Melbourne. ^[5]

In 1958, a independent pageant selected Miss Universe Australia. Miss Universe Australia partnered to Australian Photographic Agency (APA).

In 1964 and 1965, Miss Universe Australia was selected by the Agency casting in Melbourne.

Between 1968 and 1976, winners of Quest of Quests Dream Girl Australia represented Australia at Miss Universe.

Between 1977 and 1990, the winners of Miss Australia Beauty or Miss Universe Australia by TVW Enterprises represented Australia at Miss Universe.

There was no Australian entrant to the Miss Universe pageant in 1991 and 2001. In 2002 through 2004, the Australian representative to the Miss Universe pageant was chosen by a national pageant held in Sydney, organised by Adpro Management Group.

The national Miss Universe Australia pageant came under new management in 2005. Of the 307 who participated at the state level, 24 made it to the national pageant, and Michelle Guy became Miss Universe Australia 2005. ^[2]

There have been two Miss Universe title holders representing Australia: Kerry Anne Wells in 1972 and Jennifer Hawkins in 2004. Welles entered the Miss Universe pageant as Miss Australia; Hawkins was chosen Miss Universe Australia and went on to win the Miss Universe title in Quito.

New owner

In February 2016, was announced that the new director of Miss Universe Australia is Troy Barbagallo, appointed by IMG. ^[6]

The Road to Miss Universe Australia

The Road to Miss Universe Australia is a television special that is broadcast on Channel 9 & 9Life. It is produced by Mathew Knight Media in partnership with Pink Tank Events.

International crowns

• Two – Miss Universe winners:
  • Kerry Anne Wells (1972)
  • Jennifer Hawkins (2004)

Gallery of winners

• 
  Francesca Hung, Miss Universe Australia 2018
• 
  Monika Radulovic, Miss Universe Australia 2015
• 
  Tegan Martin, Miss Universe Australia 2014
• 
  Renae Ayris, Miss Universe Australia 2012
• 
  Jesinta Franklin, Miss Universe Australia 2010
• 
  Rachael Finch, Miss Universe Australia 2009
• 
  Laura Dundovic, Miss Universe Australia 2008
• 
  Erin McNaught, Miss Universe Australia 2006
• 
  Jennifer Hawkins, Miss Universe Australia 2004 & Miss Universe 2004
• 
  Laura Csortan, Miss Universe Australia 1997

Titleholders

•   : Declared as Winner
•   : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
•   : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
•   : Ended as special awards winner

On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.

Year	State	Miss Universe Australia	Placement at Miss Universe	Special awards
Troy Barbagallo (PinkTank Events PTY Ltd.) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2016
2025	Queensland	Lexie Brant [7]	TBA	TBA
2024	Queensland	Zoe Creed [8]	Unplaced
2023	Victoria	Moraya Wilson	2nd Runner-up
2022	New South Wales	Monique Riley	Top 16
2021	Victoria	Daria Varlamova	Unplaced
2020	Victoria	Maria Thattil	Top 10
2019	Victoria	Priya Serrao	Unplaced
2018	New South Wales	Francesca Hung	Top 20
2017	South Australia	Olivia Rogers	Unplaced
2016	Western Australia	Caris Tiivel	Unplaced
Deborah Miller directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2005―2015
2015	New South Wales	Monika Radulovic	Top 5
2014	New South Wales	Tegan Martin	Top 10
2013	Victoria	Olivia Wells	Unplaced
2012	Western Australia	Renae Ayris	3rd Runner-up
2011	Western Australia	Scherri-Lee Biggs	Top 10
2010	Queensland	Jesinta Campbell	2nd Runner-up	Miss Congeniality
2009	Queensland	Rachael Finch [9]	3rd Runner-up
2008	New South Wales	Laura Dundovic [10]	Top 10
2007	Queensland	Kimberley Busteed [11]	Unplaced
2006	Australian Capital T.	Erin McNaught [12]	Unplaced
2005	Western Australia	Michelle Guy [13]	Unplaced
Jim Davie and Sydney (Adpro Management Group) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2002―2004
2004	New South Wales	Jennifer Hawkins [14]	Miss Universe 2004
2003	New South Wales	Ashlea Talbot	Unplaced
2002	Queensland	Sarah Davies	Unplaced
Jim Davie directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1992―2001
Did not compete in 2001
2000	New South Wales	Samantha Frost	Unplaced
1999	New South Wales	Michelle Shead	Unplaced
1998	Victoria	Renee Henderson	Unplaced
1997	New South Wales	Laura Csortan	Unplaced	Miss Congeniality
1996	New South Wales	Jodie McMullen	Unplaced	Miss Congeniality
1995	New South Wales	Jacqueline Shooter	Unplaced
1994	Queensland	Michelle van Eimeren	Unplaced
1993	Queensland	Voni Delfos	Top 6
1992	Queensland	Georgina Denahy	Top 10
TVW Enterprises directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1977―1990
Did not compete in 1991
1990	New South Wales	Charmaine Ware	Unplaced
1989	New South Wales	Karen Wenden	Unplaced	Miss Photogenic
1988	New South Wales	Vanessa Lynn Gibson	Unplaced
1987	New South Wales	Jennine Leonarder	Unplaced
1986	New South Wales	Christina Bucat	Unplaced
1985	Queensland	Elizabeth Bowly	Unplaced
1984	Victoria	Donna Rudrum	Unplaced
1983	New South Wales	Simone Cox	Unplaced
1982	Western Australia	Lou-Anne Ronchi	Unplaced
1981	New South Wales	Karen Sang	Unplaced
1980	Victoria	Katrina Rose	Unplaced
1979	Western Australia	Kerry Dunderdale	Unplaced
1978	Victoria	Beverley Pinder	Unplaced
1977	Victoria	Jill Maree Minahan	Unplaced
Waltons, a Sydney Department directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1968―1976
1976	New South Wales	Julie Anne Ismay	4th Runner-up
1975	New South Wales	Jennifer "Jenny" Matthews	Unplaced
1974	Victoria	Yasmin May Nagy [15]	Top 12 [16]
1973	Queensland	Susan Mainwaring [17]	Unplaced [18]
1972	Western Australia	Kerry Anne Wells [19]	Miss Universe 1972 [20]
1971	New South Wales	Toni Suzanne Rayward [21]	1st runner-up [22]
1970	New South Wales	Joan Lydia Zealand [23]	2nd runner-up
1969	New South Wales	Joanne Barrett [24]	2nd runner-up [25]
1968	New South Wales	Lauren Jones [26]	Unplaced
Moomba Festival Melbourne directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1964―1965
Did not compete between 1966—1967
1965	Victoria	Pauline Verey [27]	Top 15 [28]
1964	Victoria	Maria "Ria" Luyben [29]	Unplaced [30]
Australian Photographic Agency directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe in 1958
Did not compete between 1959—1963
1958	South Australia	Astrid Lindholm	Unplaced	Most Popular Girl
Bernard Dowd (Dowd Associates) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1953―1954
Did not compete between 1955—1957
1954	New South Wales	Shirley Bliss [31]	Unplaced
1953	New South Wales	Maxine Morgan [32]	4th runner-up [33]
Miss Victoria Foundation directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe in 1952
1952	Victoria	Leah McCartney [34]	Unplaced

State rankings

State	Title	Year
New South Wales	27	1953, 1954, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2008, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022
Victoria	14	1952, 1964, 1965, 1974, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1984, 1998, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023
Queensland	10	1973, 1985, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2024
Western Australia	6	1972, 1979, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2016
South Australia	3	1958, 1982, 2017
Capital Territory	1	2006

See also

• Miss Australia
• Miss World Australia
• Miss International Australia
• Miss Earth Australia

References

1. Stanhope, Kate (29 June 2015). "NBC Cuts Ties With Donald Trump die "Derogatory Statements," Pulls Miss USA and Miss Universe Pageants". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 30 June 2015.
2. The age, 25 May 2005: Beauty quests looking more attractive
3. The Age, 9 June 2006: Who's a pretty girl, then?
4. "Elwood model is 1952 Miss Victoria". The Sun News-Pictorial . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 2 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
5. "Miss Victoria wins Miss Australia". The Sun News-Pictorial . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 17 June 1952. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
6. Clarke, Jenna (10 February 2016). "Miss Universe Australia announces new boss Perth businessman Troy Barbagallo". The Sydney Morning Herald.
7. "Lexie Brant Crowned Miss Universe Australia 2025". Gold Coast Magazine . 16 August 2025. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 15 August 2025.
8. George, Owen (5 September 2024). "Zoe Creed crowned Miss Universe Australia 2024". Gold Coast Magazine. Archived from the original on 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
9. "Townsville model Rachael Finch crowned Miss Universe Australia". Townsville Bulletin . 23 April 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
10. "Meet Miss Universe Australia, Laura Dundovic". The Daily Telegraph. 15 May 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
11. "Beauty stunned by win". Sunday Herald Sun . 22 April 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
12. "Meet the new Miss Australia". The Sydney Morning Herald . 10 June 2006. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
13. "WA woman to represent Australia for Miss Universe". ABC News . 2 April 2005. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
14. "Miss Australia, Crowned Miss Universe(R) 2004 During Live NBC Telecast On June 1". PR Newswire. 2 June 2004. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
15. "Girl takes three beauty titles". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 September 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
16. "WORLD NEWS: Crowned". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 July 1974. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
17. "THE QUEST OF QUESTS". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 40, no. 18. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 4–10 October 1972. p. 9. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
18. "WORLD NEWS: FILIPINO GIRL WINS CONTEST". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 July 1972. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
19. "REPRESENTING AUSTRALIA". The Australian Women's Weekly . Vol. 39, no. 18. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 29 September – 5 October 1971. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
20. "Kerry is top beauty". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 31 July 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
21. "BEAUTY QUEENS HERE FOR FLORAL FESTIVAL FINALE". The Queanbeyan Age . Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia. 13 November 1969. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
22. "WORLD NEWS". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 26 July 1971. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
23. Hines, Barbara (16 October 1969). "Miss World is not sure". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
24. "MISS WORLD AT WALTONS CANBERRA EXCLUSIVELY! FRIDAY". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 October 1968. p. 12. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
25. "Australian No 3 for Miss Universe". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 July 1969. p. 6. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
26. "What people are wearing in SYDNEY: AT A CHARITY LUNCHEON". The Australian Women's Weekly Fashion News . Vol. 36, no. 3. Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 19–25 June 1968. p. 8. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
27. "Melbourne's Moomba Queen". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 July 1965. p. 4. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
28. "Beauties". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 23 July 1965. p. 1. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
29. "Moomba". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 16 July 1964. p. 7. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
30. "Cables in brief: Beauty". The Canberra Times . Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 August 1964. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
31. "N.S.W. girl wins Quest". The Daily Telegraph . Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 23 May 1954. p. 7. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
32. "N.S.W. Teenager Crowned Miss Australia: Miss Maxine Morgan Chosen Miss Australia". The Age . Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. 29 May 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
33. "NSW girl 5th in world quest". The Mail . Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. 18 July 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.
34. "Victorian, Leah McCartney Is 'Miss Australia'". The Newcastle Sun . Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. 17 June 1952. p. 3. Retrieved 17 October 2025– via Trove.

Sources

"Aussie top three in Miss Universe". BigPond News . 25 August 2010. Retrieved 13 February 2011.

External links

• Official Miss Universe Australia website
• Miss Universe Australia 2012 Renae Ayris Appears on the cover of GCMAG in June 2012