MODEL CITIZEN: Former Moree woman Alisha Thompson hopes to become Miss Universe Australia.
A FORMER Moree woman has her sights set on becoming the next Miss Universe.
Alisha Thompson has made it through to the preliminary stage of the Miss Universe Australia competition and will head to Brisbane in two weeks’ time to try for a spot among Queensland’s finalists.
Miss Thompson, who now lives on the Sunshine Coast, said she had been modelling for two to three years and entering the competition was something she had always wanted to do, given Jennifer Hawkins – the 2004 winner of the international Miss Universe – was her idol.
A personal trainer and fitness sales representative as well as a model, Miss Thompson said if she got further in the competition she wanted to advance the cause of health and fitness.
She would like to see more focus on health in schools, especially given the issue of childhood obesity, but also believes education should focus on not only fitness but drugs and alcohol.
Another issue Miss Thompson said she would like to push is women’s rights.
She said there were lots of women around the world who remained without the right to have their say, so she wanted to be able to speak up on their behalf.
The next competition stage in Brisbane will involve modelling formal wear, a bikini and cocktail dress, as well as a question-and-answer session.
Miss Thompson said she was “very ambitious” and would apply this tenacity to her quest to become Miss Universe.
“I want to show people it doesn’t matter where you come from, if you work hard, you can achieve (what you want),” she said.
Miss Thompson first got into modelling while living in Toowoomba, when her friends convinced her to enter a Miss V8 Supercar competition.
She continues to do commercial and other modelling work, and is the face of millinery brand A Day At The Races.