After beating 7,000 other entrants and being crowned Miss Australia in Sydney on April 22nd 2009, Rachel Finch impressed the world and took the prize of third runner up for the Miss Universe 2009 competition.

At the ripe age of 18, the Sydney born Townsville star set out to explore the world. She made her international debut in 2006 for a three month modelling contract in New Zealand. She continued the journey and throughout 2007-2008 she lived and worked in Singapore, Germany and London. She maintains that travelling alone was her biggest accomplishment.

Before stepping into those heels which carried her all the way to the Bahamas, Rachael, the prospective Business and Events Management university student, had a passion for touch- football, water skiing and going on camping trips with her family.
Undoubtedly Ms Finch was the perfect Miss Universe 2009 candidate. She beamed with enthusiasm, intelligence, passion, ambition and undeniable beauty with her ultimate dream being one day to produce and present her own lifestyle show.

In 2004 Rachael entered and won ‘Model of the Year’ at the annual ‘Fashion Bash’. She volunteered at the event and by 2008 was working as the media representative as well as being appointed the role of the sponsorship manager.

She then began presenting a television documentary for the ‘Fashion Bash’. In November 2008 Rachael completed a television presenting course at the Sydney Academy of Film and Television and has presented various segments on Foxtel’s EWTV and covered Sydney’s Earth Festival.
This year she has been involved with ‘Max & Co’, ‘Jet Swimwear’, ‘Coca-Cola’, ‘Louis Vuitton’ and ‘Chanel’. She has also appeared in prestigious magazines including ‘Grazia’, ‘Cleo’ and ‘Seventeen’. Amongst her list of awards and achievements are ‘Miss Teen Australia’ runner-up and the ‘Winner of Miss Boarder’ and ‘Miss Beach’ in 2007.

Since 2004 she worked closely with mentor, Henry Petersen who was absolutely delighted all her hard work had paid off. The third runner up was so proud to represent Australia and was ecstatic that her national costume was created by Perth-based fashion designer Ruth Tarvydas.

Rachael felt honoured to be alongside the other top four Miss Universe delegates from the Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Puerto Rico and Venezuela. Feeling that wearing a swimsuit as part of a beauty pageant was a “beautiful thing” as it gave “women the chance to show off their figures to the rest of the world”, Finch won the swimsuit competition scoring an impressive 9.264.

Miss Australia answered Valeria Mazza’s final question in a stunning white evening gown designed by Sonia Cappellazzo complete with a jewel encrusted heart-shaped bodice. Undoubtedly Finch was spot-on when she declared the gorgeous dress had “great stage presence” and that it was “glamorous and elegant” – much like herself!

BLK1 Article: BIANCA VILLAROSA

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As one of the most publicised beauty contests in the world, attracting millions of viewers from all across the globe, the Miss Universe pageant will no doubt, be one of the highest anticipated events this year.

Taking place on the shores of Nassau, the Bahamas on a little island so-fittingly called ‘Paradise,’ the prestigious pageants’ 58th year looks as though it will live up to its reputation as the most popular pageant in the world.

First founded in 1952 by Californian clothing company, Pacific Mills, the Miss Universe pageant went on to later become one of Donald Trump’s many acquisitions in 1996, and has since developed into a worldwide phenomenon.

It is this phenomenon which Mr Trump and his organisers remain steadfast in promoting as ‘not just a beauty contest,’ but a culture-rich event which strives to include intelligent, well-mannered and confident women from all across the globe.

Each of these women vying for the coveted title will be judged in three categories: swimwear, evening gown and a one-on-one interview with the judges. If successful, the winner will find themselves catapulted into a life devoted to overseas charity campaigns, intent on creating public awareness regarding the control and prevention of specific diseases, in particular, AIDS, and seeking to improve the lives of others through the promotion and general well-being of others.

Of course, the winner also gets to call the Trump Tower, New York, home, during her year-long reign and is exposed to a world filled with countless opportunities and career prospects.

Since touching down on the Caribbean nation’s picturesque shores of Paradise Island, each of the 84 contestants will spend their time leading up to the final date, visiting the island’s abundance of beautiful locations, and making various glamorous appearances before the first official round of judging commences on August 16th, in which 15 finalists will be selected for the lavish August 23 event.

With Venezuela, the United States and Puerto Rico possessing the highest number of wins in the pageants history, it will be expected that Stefanania Fernandes (Venezuela), Kristen Dalton (USA) and Mayra Matos (Puerto Rico), will all reach the finals and be strong contenders for the coveted Diamond Nexus Labs Crown.

Local Townsville beauty, Rachael Finch, who recently came close to being devoured by a five metre crocodile, whilst doing promotion work at Crocodylus Park in Darwin late last month, is also a pageant favourite for following in the footsteps of 2004 Aussie winner, Jennifer Hawkins.

Sadly, there are a handful of past participating countries, which will not be competing this year, including Antigua and Barbuda, Chile, Denmark, Kazakhstan, Northern Marianas and Trinidad and Tobago, due to various issues such as lack of funding, sponsorship and general lack of national interest.

As is true of every beauty pageant, further fuelling the budding excitement and anticipation in the lead up to the event, a string of controversial events, which have sparked considerable media attention, have occurred. Apart from Japanese entrant, Emiri Miyasaka being opening criticised for her daringly revealing leather-clad national costume, in which her hot pink underwear was clearly visible, insulting many people from her home country, a row has also broken out between Bolivia and Peru regarding the name of Miss Peru’s national costume, “la Diablada,” which the Bolivians are claiming is a stolen manifestation of folklore which belongs to them.

Alas, all publicity is good publicity, and as the beautiful Paradise Island finds itself inhabited by another 84 rare beauties, the hype continues to mount as to who will take over the reign of Venezuelan winner, Dayana Mendoza and who, with flowers in hand, and diamond tiara on head, will find her world inextricably filled with bright, new possibilities and the lasting memory of a night she will never forget.

BLK1 IS EXCITED TO BRING YOU FULL COVERAGE OF THE 2009 MISS UNIVERSE PAGEANT

BLK1 Article: JESSICA LENI

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