Welcome to another edition of Beauty Corner! This edition features Courtney Tester, Miss Intercontinental Australia 2022. Courtney is a teacher, philanthropist, and pageant veteran from the western city of Perth. Courtney will fly to Egypt this October to represent Australia at the Miss Intercontinental 2022 pageant. Continue reading to learn more about Courtney, her passions, where you should visit if you ever go to Australia, and more!

Q: Congratulations on your win as Miss Intercontinental Australia 2022! What made you want to compete in the Miss Intercontinental system?

A: Thank you so much! After Covid-19 lockdowns ended here in Perth I felt like I was missing something in my life and wanted to regain my sense of self, so I decided to enter the national pageant and was fortunate enough to win. One of the most rewarding parts so far has been the friendships I have gained with women across Australia, who show their continued support at every moment. It has also been an excellent opportunity to get involved with the community and draw attention to causes I am passionate about.

Q: What have you found to be the difficult part of your training process for Miss Intercontinental 2022?

Q: You’ve been involved in pageantry for a long time. How did you get your start in pageantry? What makes you keep on coming back and competing?

A: My first pageant was at the age of 4, where I competed and won the title of Little Miss Crowning Glory here in Perth, Western Australia. My mum entered me on a whim in my jeans and my favourite t-shirt, and I was lucky enough to walk away with the crown. It wasn’t until 2013 when I competed again at the age of 16 and won the title of Miss Teen Galaxy Australia, after yet again my mum entering me on a whim. As a teen I was always fascinated with the modelling and performance industry and coming from a background of dance I jumped at the chance to compete on stage in a pageant.

The sisterhood of pageantry is what holds my heart and draws me back every time. The women that you meet come from such diverse backgrounds yet have such similar interests. My pageantry experiences have been incredibly positive, seeing women band together and show unconditional support to one another. I have made life-long friends all over the world and love keeping in touch on social media.

Q: Having already represented Australia at a teen international pageant, do you feel less nervous about being your country’s representative at Miss Intercontinental 2022?

Q: Many people wonder how different the Miss and Teen divisions in pageantry are. Having transitioned between the two divisions yourself, can you tell us what you noticed to be the biggest difference(s) between the Miss and Teen divisions? What advice can you give young women who have competed in the Teen division and are now wanting to enter into the Miss division?

A: The biggest difference between transitioning from Teen to Miss is being able to use the knowledge of my past experience to my benefit. As a Miss, I have a better self-awareness of what I want to achieve during my reign and the ability to set goals to achieve this. As I mentioned, I also competed as a teen because my mother sought opportunities for me. I now compete out of my own merit and have a greater sense of ownership over how and why I compete.

My best advice is to not compare your successes as a teen to where you are now, nor the successes of others to your own. Remember that the only expectations that exist are the ones you put on yourself. Stay focused on why you are competing and remember to enjoy every single second!

Q: You have shared your charity endeavors on social media, specifically about GiveWrite. Can you tell us a little about GiveWrite and how you have contributed to their cause?

A: GiveWrite is an incredible charity here in Australia that provides disadvantaged youths with necessary school supplies in metropolitan, rural, and remote areas. Being a teacher, I have seen firsthand how poverty can impact the learning environment, particularly when children feel insecure about seeming different. Providing these children with something as simple as stationery can go a long way in boosting their mental wellbeing, sense of self, and their willingness to approach learning. If they are more eager to immerse themselves in learning, they will see greater benefits in their education as a whole.

As part of my work with the charity, I organized a donation drive with the local community, collecting general stationery and pencil cases. I was also fortunate enough to visit their headquarters and assist in cleaning, sorting, and building their student packs ready for delivery across Australia. I hope to continue my fundraising for this charity and aim to involve my own students in this to continue to spread awareness about education equality. 

Q: On the topic of education, you recently graduated university with a Master in Primary Education. What sparked your interest in becoming a teacher?

A: I have always wanted to become a teacher since being a little girl. My inspiration behind becoming a teacher stems from my desire to inspire the next generation of young Australians to reach their academic potential. Growing up in a small town called Jurien Bay, I idolized the teachers from my primary years, and was heavily influenced by their positive can-do attitude. Despite moving to Perth for a better education, I highly value the positive impact that my teachers had as active role models in my life, which is something that I model as a teacher.

Q: Period poverty is an issue not only in Australia, but around the world. Part of the reason for period poverty is due to the stigma surrounding menstruation. How do you suggest we reduce the stigma surrounding menstruation and decrease period poverty?

A: The best way to reduce period poverty is to keep the conversation going. 1 in 5 Australian women are affected by period poverty because they cannot afford sanitary items. Before hearing about Share the Dignity, an Australian organization helping to put an end to period poverty by providing free sanitary kits to women across Australia, I had little knowledge about the issue nor did I want to talk about it. Having heard testimonies of real women that have experienced this, I know the importance of sharing my knowledge with women across the world. I encourage everyone to not shy away from the conversation, spread awareness on the statistics, and consider what you can do to support women experiencing period poverty. The more we talk about it, the more we reduce the stigma around the topic.

Q: Mental health is another cause you are very passionate about. Despite the encouragement given to those suffering from mental illnesses to reach out for help when they need it, many still don’t. This is not solely due to the stigma surrounding mental illness, but also due to the fear of what might happen to them if they do speak out, such as being hospitalized. What would you say to those individuals who are scared to ask for help because of the repercussions that may follow?

A: Mental health is such a prevalent issue in our society, with most people having experienced it themselves. This is why it is so important to put our own well-being first. I would ask those that are scared of the repercussions to consider how their loved ones would feel if something terrible happened to them. I would remind these people that seeking help and being hospitalized is not a negative but in fact a positive, where they are able to access support and advice and win the battle against mental health. I have seen the effects that suicide can have on friends, family, and the community, and the likelihood that a young person will end their life is far too common. Let’s break the stigma, break the silence, and encourage the world to seek help when they need it.

Q: With your career and charitable duties taking up much of your time, what are your favorite things to do when do you get some free time?

Q: Do you have any hidden talents? If so, what are they?

A: I would say my hidden talent is tap dancing, and I might be a little rusty, but as a teen I could also sign Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Q: What are the best hidden spots in Australia that visitors must check out?

A: It is tough to choose because there are so many amazing places in Australia. If you are ever lucky enough to come to Australia, come to Perth! We have incredible wildlife and coastlines.

When I was 5 years old, I was lucky enough to travel the west coast of Australia in a caravan with my family. The best places that I have visited so far are:

• Karijini National Park (Western Australia)
• Monkey Mia – where you can swim with wild dolphins and emus in the ocean! (Western Australia)
• Broome – it has amazing food, history, and sites to see (Western Australia)
• Cervantes & Jurien Bay – my home towns (Western Australia)
• Darwin – or anywhere in the Northern Territory, just watch out for crocs!

Some destinations I still look forward to visiting are Uluru (Northern Territory) and The Great Barrier Reef (Queensland).

Q: What beauty pageant winner(s) do you look up to the most, and why?

A: Nationally, I look up to Maria Thattil, Miss Universe Australia 2020. Defying all odds, she won the national title as a ‘mature’ queen despite being only 26, she is a woman of colour, and is only 5’3. She has shown that there is no one size fits all beauty, embodying aspects that society may deem as not your typical ‘pageant girl.’ This kind of diversity has paved the way for women across Australia, and the world, to have confidence in themselves and to be proud of who they are. She continues to break down social barriers and stigmas and uses her voice to draw attention to causes she is passionate about.

I also love Pia Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015. Pia bounced back seamlessly from the controversy surrounding her win, and continues to show great poise even after her reign. She continues to raise awareness about causes important to her, like aids, mental health, and animal welfare.

Q: If you were to win Miss Intercontinental 2022, what would be the first thing you would do?

A: The first thing I would do is take off my heels…if you know, you know! Secondly, I would use my title to draw attention to global education equality for children and mental health awareness. More than 70 million primary school children across the world are unable to attend school. Seeing children globally access a quality education will see to greater diversity in our leadership and help to lift families and communities out of poverty. I will continue to use my social media platforms to promote mental health awareness and be a positive role model for women across all continents.

Q: Finally, is there anything else you would like to share with us?

A: Thank you for the opportunity to share my story.

This or That

Thank you so much for appearing on Beauty Corner, Courtney! I wish you nothing but the best on your journey to the Miss Intercontinental crown as well as for all of your future endeavors. Make sure to follow Courtney’s journey to the Miss Intercontinental 2022 pageant by following the Instagram accounts of Courtney Tester, Miss Australia Pageants, and Miss Intercontinental Australia.

Feature Image courtesy of Steve Nuske Photography

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Tags: Australia, Courtney Tester, Miss Australia, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Intercontinental 2022, pageant