INTERVIEW: Miss Intercontinental Australia 2022

Title, name & age?

Miss Intercontinental Australia 2022 Courtney-Jade Tester 25

What made you enter pageants in the first place?

I actually unknowingly entered my first pageant as a teenager after my mum submitted my entry on a whim. Pageantry was, and still is, relatively new in Australia and I was a young dancer that loved performing on stage, so I jumped at the opportunity. Thankfully my parents supported my goals, and I was fortunate enough to win my first title at 16.

Have you competed before? If so, can you tell us about your journey?

Miss Teen Galaxy Australia 2013 - I was the first ever teen to be titled in Australia and was lucky enough to represent Australia in Orlando in September 2013. This was such an amazing experience that shaped the person I am now, reinforcing the importance of community involvement and charity aid. I am fortunate to still be in contact with my teen galaxy sash sisters to this day, and love seeing how much everyone has grown and the journeys they have taken since this experience.

What made you decide to compete in your current system?

I entered hoping to drive myself into community and charity aid. After the last year we have had I think it has made us all realise what is important to us, and for me I have realised that I need to do the things that makes my heart sing - and for me that is pageants. They provide us pageant girls with an opportunity to get involved in social events, community work and drive us to fundraise for causes that we are passionate about. Not to mention allow us to be a part of a sisterhood.

The journey so far has highlighter my passion for education and the importance of mental health. I hope to continue to promote health, wellbeing and the importance of self-care, and support charities and organisations that assist the education of our children.

What the best thing that pageants have taught you?

Pageants have taught me that there is nothing more powerful than women supporting other women. For generations women have been taught to compete with one another. I believe pageantry has helped to change this perception, particularly for myself, as the overwhelming amount of support, guidance and love I have received from my own sisterhood prior to, and post winning has been indescribable. We can all succeed in this life if we band together and lift each other up through the glass ceiling.

What’s your pageant platform and why?

As I mentioned COVID made me realise the importance of doing things that make me happy. I myself have experienced depression and anxiety during COVID and considerable social anxiety re-entering society after a long stint at home. I am sure many other young adults have experienced something similar, and I hope that the more we talk about it the more we normalise it. I have been working on a social media campaign to promote mental health and inspire other young women to take care of their mental wellbeing. I am also incredibly passionate about education, ang global education equality. I have been working with local organisations such as GiveWrite to provide resources to disadvantaged children and those below the poverty line and aim to continue this work with global organisations.

What’s your dream title?

I just won it!

What was it like when you won?

It is so hard to put into words the feeling of winning after working so hard to achieve your goal. I was quite literally speechless and lost for words that I was chosen to represent this system and my country. After being unable to compete internationally in 2021 due to COVID restrictions, I was left feeling defeated. Fortunately the international organisation and my national directors have provided me with the opportunity to compete as the 2022 title holder, and I am so grateful to be given this responsibility. I hope to do Australia proud on the international stage and show the international system that my 'beauty power' is being passionate about causes bigger than myself and a desire to have a global impact on education equality.

What’s the best advice you have for fellow pageant queens/finalists?

Never compare yourself to other women. Every woman is on her own unique journey that is separate from your own. Keep working hard and striving to achieve your goals. Your time will come.

What have you been doing since you won?

Since I won my national title, I have hit the ground running organising photoshoots and appearances in the lead up to the international final and am aiming to promote the system as much as I can throughout my reign. I am currently juggling my new pageantry duties, along with primary teaching and managing accounts for our family business. I am also working on a community project and look forward to sharing this in the coming months.

Social media links

www.instagram.com/courtneytester_ www.facebook.com/courtneyjadetester

How has the lockdown due to Covid-19 affected your pageant journey? / Has your reign been extended due to Covid-19?

The West Australian government and our premier has been phenomenal in putting public safety first throughout the pandemic. Interstate travel restrictions meant that the national final for Miss Intercontinental Australia was postponed during 2020 and rescheduled to May 2021. Fortunately, contestants from most Australian states we able to travel interstate to compete at nationals, although many made the difficult decision to not compete because of the health risk. As I mentioned, being unable to compete internationally last year was devastating. I am so proud to be reigning under the directorship of Miss Intercontinental, who acknowledged the significant travel risks and put my own health and safety first. Fast forward to 2022 I am now the current titleholder and will be competing at the international final because I missed the opportunity. I am so thankful that the Miss Intercontinental Organisation values me as a competitor and wants to see me live my dreams at the international final. It is so powerful feeling valued as a titleholder and encourages me to continue my journey.

What makes a good pageant role model?

To me, a good pageant role model is someone that is relatable and promotes issues that they are passionate about. If they are genuine it will shine through, and hopefully inspire other young women to share what is most important to them.

What’s your favourite pageant round?

Swimsuit is my favourite round because of the strong sense of empowerment that I feel during competing.

How do you deal with pageant nerves?

I think the best strategy is to be open and honest with your fellow contestants during pageant week. Once I talk my nerves through with one of my sash sisters I usually feel so much more at ease with the task ahead. Women supporting women is so powerful. I also constantly remind myself of my own journey and reflect on how far I have come and tell myself that whatever will be will be.