LIFESTYLE 35

Brought up with strong values by her parents Valerie and Andrew, on their Hinterland acreage property, the newly crowned Miss Universe Australia says she has a lot to be thankful for.

‘I think I am just a product of my environment,’ she says. ‘Family is very important to me and luckily my parents gave my sister Aleysha and I, a great upbringing and a great education.’

She credits her mother, the founder of independent ‘creative thinking’ Gold Coast school Silkwood, with the inspiration to follow her dreams.

‘My mother set up the student-centred school when I was about fi ve from a house with just a couple of kids, in order that her children could go to a school that encouraged their talents and dreams to fl ourish. So to see what Mum has achieved with limited resources has really given me the courage and determination to go for my own dreams.’

And go for them she has. In the past two years, Jesinta, who has only just turned 19, has appeared in numerous advertising campaigns for names including Davenport, Telstra, UndercoverWear, and more recently as a result of her recent win, Nude by Nature pure mineral make-up, Novo Shoes and Proton.

Now (at the time of Coast Lifestyle going to press) she is set to travel to Las Vegas in the US for the August 23 world fi nal of Miss Universe, where she will compete with a line-up of other young hopefuls for the coveted title, a range of luxury prizes and a springboard to even more opportunity.

Not bad for someone who says they originally ‘fell’ into modeling, by way of a student fashion parade during high school. A model scout happened to be present at the event who proceeded to enter the then 15 year old into a young model competition where she duly won the runway section.

The college captain at school, Jesinta was off ered a scholarship by Bond University following her graduation. However, after a lot of angst, this was something she decided

to turn down. ‘It was about that time that I was just

getting started with modelling and the thought of that world and all that it could off er me was really exciting,’ she says.

‘I only had about $500 in my bank account and no contract or agency to support me, but I decided to take a chance and move to Sydney to see what was in store for me. It was very frightening but I just knew I had to take the risk, otherwise I would be forever wondering!’

At fi rst, she says it was diffi cult. ‘In Sydney the competition was strong and it was diffi cult to keep putting a brave face on at all the castings. Plus I kept getting told that my book wasn’t strong enough and that work was in short supply.’

But eventually, following Sydney Fashion Week, Jesinta landed a solid modeling contract. Travel and work in Shanghai, China, ensued and Bond Uni was well and truly off the cards.

Since then, the decision to enter the Miss Universe Australia contest has been the best one she has made, she says. ‘Yes of course my life has changed since winning the

title, I don’t think there was any way that it wouldn’t have. It’s a cliché, I know, but I am totally honored to be doing this. To be going back to my old high school and talking to year 8-12 students about goal setting and striving to make their dreams come true is a real pleasure.’

Also an ambassador for kids healthy lifestyle charity Muscle Sprouts and appointed to the social committee of the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, Jesinta says fundraising for these special causes is now high on her agenda for the year and something which is close to her heart.

‘Whatever it is that they are hoping to raise money for, for these kids, I will be there to support them and that is very special for me.’

So what does this Gold Coast girl do during any downtime she may have?

‘Well, my fi rst love has always been acting,’ she says. ‘Since primary days I’ve always been the fi rst to volunteer myself for any acting opportunities that have come up and I have even ended up doing a few short fi lms whilst in high school. Acting is certainly something I am keen to pursue but we shall see.

‘Also, I do really crave knowledge and absolutely adore learning, so I am probably going to enroll myself on another degree via a correspondence course.

‘With the original degree that I was going for at Bond Uni, I had chosen journalism as I thought it may have been a way into TV or fi lm, but now I probably don’t need that so I may go for something like history or politics; that would be great.’

Mainly, though, alongside an exercise regime which comprises pilates and running by the Nerang river, Jesinta says she loves hanging out with her family and going on bushwalks or to the beach. ‘That’s when I feel most relaxed.’

Come August, her parents and sister plus her grandma Alison will all be there with her at Miss Universe in Las Vegas, she says.

‘I couldn’t do it without them.’

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