Picture: MOLLY TAYLOR
MOUNT Gambier resident Matilda Thompson will switch her work uniform for an evening gown and tiara this weekend when she participates in the 2019 Miss Teen Australia state finals.
Named Miss Teen South Australia after being the competition’s sole entrant, Ms Thompson is in the running to become one of 25 finalists for the national decider held in Tasmania in July.
The teenager will come up against seven other entrants at the combined Victoria and South Australia state final in Melbourne tomorrow.
Ms Thompson said this week had been a rush to be organised after being told of her qualification on Tuesday.
“The deadline for parents and family to be invited to the event was Monday and I was told I made it through on Tuesday,” she said.
“I have been under the pump and am still looking for an evening gown,” she said.
“I have been lucky to receive tremendous support from the community with Envy Attire Hire finding me a cocktail dress and make-up artist Emily Laurenson willing to do my makeup at 3am on the day.”
Despite the late notice, Ms Thompson remains hopeful for the weekend after originally turning to beauty pageants to try something different.
“I was interested in applying as beauty pageants are not common in Australia,” she said.
“Entrants receive an experience which does not happen often.
“It is just something different and I am making a break and hoping people will follow in my footsteps.”
Ms Thompson said she hopes the stigma surrounding beauty queens and pageants would diminish as society evolves.
“There is that stigma around beauty queens not being smart and them being over-sexualised,” she said.
“Nothing has been said directly to me but I am sure there are whispers from people talking about why I would enter something like this.
“I just want to encourage people to not be scared of what people think and step out of their comfort zone.”
Tomorrow’s competition will see Ms Thompson wear a cocktail dress and a floor-length evening gown during two heats on stage.
“This year was the final opportunity for me to enter the competition as I turn 20 soon,” she said.
“It was the push to enter it in the first place.
“I will not get another chance to enter unless I enter Miss University Australia or something similar which I doubt.”
Established in 2004, Miss Teen Australia provides young females with an opportunity to participate in a beauty pageant and is a gateway into competitions such as Miss Universe, Miss World and World Teen Supermodel.
