World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to welcome amazing Queen Rachel Gallagher National Finalist Miss Australia Continents 2018, Media Award.
Full name: Rachel Gallagher
Title/Year: National Finalist Miss Australia Continents 2018, Media Award
Pageant System: Miss Continents
Age: 25
Zodiac sign: Leo
Hobbies: Irish dancing, modelling, writing
Platform: Female Leadership & Confidence
Years competed: 1
Countries visited: Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, France, Netherlands
Likes: Dancing, modelling, music, green tea
Dislikes: Rude people
Status: In a relationship
World Class Beauty Queens: Please tell us about yourself.
I’m studying a Master of Education (Educational Management and Leadership), specializing in Female Leadership. I currently work in the property industry, in one of the biggest property developing companies in Australia. I dedicate my free time to pursuing competitive Irish dance, and am also part of an Irish dance performance group. I advocate for Female Leadership and Confidence, and I write for my blog, Sister Confidence – www.sisterconfidence.com
World Class Beauty Queens: What does women Empowerment means to you?
Empowering women means the world to me and has formed the basis of my studies, and even my interests outside of the professional and academic spheres. Empowerment means to embrace yourself, your skills, your past, and your hopes, and to pursue your goals vigorously.
Growing up, particularly as a teenager, I had zero self-confidence. I would hide behind my hair and disengage myself from other people and social situations because I was worried they wouldn’t like me, and that I “wasn’t good enough”. As an adult, I now believe that the most important part of female empowerment is for us to use our sense of self-confidence to lift other women up to join us on our life journeys.
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about your pageant history.
I’ve been in one pageant, but I’m no rookie when it comes to competing! I’ve been competing in Irish dancing for nearly 7 years, which requires a lot of dedication, and literal blood, sweat, and tears! I have also been an entrant in an international cultural program for young women of Irish heritage for two years running.
World Class Beauty Queens: What inspired you to do your first pageant?
I really wanted a platform to speak about female leadership and confidence. I wanted to do something that would put me completely out of my comfort zone to not only test my own skills, but to have a vehicle to empower other young women to become confident leaders in their communities.
World Class Beauty Queens: Why did you choose to compete for your current title?
I chose the Continents system because I truly believe in the motto “be your own kind of beautiful”. The motto resonated with me because I wanted to encourage other women to embrace themselves fully, inside and out, beyond society’s ideals of beauty.
World Class Beauty Queens: To those unfamiliar with your pageant system please tell us what is it about?
The Continents system focuses on creating a legacy of strong, confident, successful young women that are leaders in community service and self-confidence.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are you being judged on during the competition?
There are a couple of different areas that you’re judged on in competition: swimsuit, evening gown, on stage question, and interview, just to name a few.
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about your experience during the competition.
My experience during the competition was more than I ever expected it to be! I made great friends, who I still speak to and see regularly. I also won the Media Award, which I was completely shocked about.
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about your platform or what cause do you volunteer for.
My platform, female leadership and confidence, helps women to develop leadership skills and a confident mindset. I aim to help women develop these leadership and confidence skills to positively impact their lives, and extensively, the lives of those around them.
World Class Beauty Queens: What appearances have you done with your title?
I’ve done quite a few appearances! My favourite ones were visiting the Luxembourg Palace in Paris, France, and visiting the San Clinic in Sydney to learn about radiotherapy and the work they do for cancer treatment at the hospital.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are some of your achievements?
A lot of my achievements so far come from my academic life. I’ve earned a Bachelor of Secondary Teaching and a Bachelor of Arts, and have got to work on two amazing research scholarships about educational leadership – which is where my love for studying leadership began. I’ve also competed in Irish dancing at both State and National level, and have done a dance performance and fashion show, live on stage in front of 7000 people and 25 million people on international television.
World Class Beauty Queens: What is your on stage strategy to win the judges over?
I just like to be myself. I think being genuine, and being comfortable with being yourself is what makes people stand out. I also love to be on stage – I’ve always been a bit of an entertainer!
World Class Beauty Queens: What makes you stand out from all those other beautiful girls?
Personally, I would say the way I speak makes me stand out. My strong point is speaking on stage; I’m not shy about getting my point across when I talk on stage and in interviews, and I’ve got a bit of a talent for words!
World Class Beauty Queens: Tell us about the moment your name was called out as the winner.
When I won the Media Award, I was completely shocked! I never expected to win anything, I was just happy to be at the pageant in the first place. I had a huge smile on my face! I love my Media Award sash, and it takes pride of place on display in my house!
World Class Beauty Queens: What does it mean to you to be a Beauty Queen?
I think being a Beauty Queen means to be a kind, compassionate woman that people want to work with and look up to. I think, as a Beauty Queen, the person on the inside is more important than the image on the outside. Having a beautiful personality trumps just having a beautiful face.
World Class Beauty Queens: How did competing in pageants helped your life?
Competing in a pageant gave me a network of supportive people that are interested in the things I’m interested in, who accept me as I am. It’s opened doors for me that I never thought possible.
World Class Beauty Queens: How did pageants helped your selfesteem and body image?
Pageants reinforce my self-esteem and body image by giving me opportunities to develop my skills and push me to try new things. For example, I hardly ever wear bikinis (mostly because I feel they’re not practical to swim in, and I get sunburnt really easily!), but wearing one on stage in front of a crowd was definitely a new and liberating experience for me.
World Class Beauty Queens: You are an inspiration to all the girls out there. How does it feel?
I feel like being part of pageants gives me a voice to encourage other girls and women to vivaciously pursue what they want to do, and to do it with confidence! I’d like to use my voice to build a global empire of confident female leaders.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your tips for learning better pageant walk?
Practice. I watched a LOT of YouTube videos. I made notes in a little book. I also watched other girls in the pageant and learnt from that. It’s really important to pay attention to what’s going on around you and ask questions, particularly from other people who are more experienced.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your tips for choosing right pageant dress?
I went to a dress store that specialized in selling pageant dresses – Visage Boutique – which was also a sponsor of the pageant. I knew what I wanted, but was open to suggestions. I think it’s also important to know your body shape and what kind of dress and colour would suit you and your personality, and the branding you want to portray. Also, really important – you have to wear the dress, not have the dress wear you!
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your tips for winning interview?
Speak from the heart. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. I try to do this in everyday life, too!
World Class Beauty Queens: How did you prepare for your competition?
I watched heaps of videos, listened to podcasts, and did a lot of research! It was my first pageant, so I prepared beforehand as much as I could. I also got on my Instagram - @the_rachg – and really put my voice out there. When I got to the pageant, people already knew me from my social media presence, even though I didn’t have that many followers! I also started my blog, Sister Confidence, as a legacy project, to guide my journey through the pageant and beyond.
World Class Beauty Queens: What is one mistake that you've done during competing you wish you could redo and fix it?
I don’t think there is anything I would redo. I try to live a “no regrets” life!
World Class Beauty Queens: What other mistakes are made by girls during the contest?
I think some mistakes might be trying to be “perfect” and be what they think the judges are looking for. Judges are people too, and in my experience, people like to see people who are comfortable with and confident about who they are!
World Class Beauty Queens: Any modeling or acting experience?
Not many people know this, but I studied theatre acting for about 10 years! I have modelling experience, having done catwalk and photographic modelling.
World Class Beauty Queens: What are your plans for 2019 as a Queen?
I plan to do more pageants, to learn more, and to build on my female leadership and confidence platform. 2019 is already off to a flying start, and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store!
World Class Beauty Queens: What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
I would like people to remember me as compassionate, emphatic, intelligent, and someone who lifts other people up to be their best.
International Director: Gaspar Cruz
National Director: Kim Cancellier
Your Local Director: Kim Cancellier
Pageant website: www.continentspageantaustralia.com.au
www.misscontinents.com
World Class Beauty Queens Magazine would like to say thank you for this amazing interview.
Rachel Gallagher National Finalist Miss Australia Continents 2018, Media Award, World Class Beauty Queens Magazine, Photo by Philip Warder Interview by Derek Tokarzewski Owner/Editor in Chief Mr United Nations 2018 Platform: Women Empowerment Ambassador to International Foundation for Orphans iffocares.org
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