Sene makes NSW finalist for 2023 Miss Universe Australia

BY RHIANNA PATRICK,

A Torres Strait Islander entrant in the Miss Universe Australia competition has made it through to the next stage of the competition.

Sydney-based model Sene Maluwapi (pictured right) will be vying for a spot at the national title later this year.

The proud Malu Kiwai woman of the Samu and Gaidai clans started modelling as a 14 year old in Adelaide and since being signed to Chic Management (Brisbane) and Chadwick Models (Sydney) has become a regular on Australian runways, best known for her striking ‘Afro’ hair.

Ms Maluwapi said getting into the industry was a way for her to push representation of Torres Strait Islanders and the Papuan community into a space they were rarely seen.

“This was a big thing for me and it was a big decision,” she said.

“But given our islands at the moment are currently in danger due to climate change, it really just gave me this extra urge to apply this year, and really put us out there, and get people recognising, and seeing us, and also supporting us, and standing in solidarity with other First Nations of Australia.”

The 19 year old said she had been approached a number of times to apply for the competition but it never felt like the right time.

“I felt like it was a calling, honestly,” she said. “I was just like, ‘yeah’.

“I felt like I had the strength for it, and the voice, and the mana –my people behind me, and so I was like, ‘you know what? I can do this’.

“Honestly, I’ve gone into it with a mindset like, ‘I’m going in this to win up for my community’, and that’s that.”

March to October will be a busy seven months for Ms Maluwapi behind the scenes of the Miss Universe Australia competition, which means a lot of workshops and events with the other New South Wales finalists.

She said she had a lot to learn about pageants and ‘meetings with brands’.

“There’s going to be a lot of training,” she said.

“What they have given me with that, to get to the nationals, I need to put my all in it, not hold back, be 100 per cent me.

“There’s going to be a lot of things, I know that they’ll talk about how we speak, and we’ll be judged on that.

“We’ll be judged on the way we walk, even our manners, like everything.

“It is a lot of pressure, and it is a huge title to hold, even just being a state finalist, which I’m just overwhelmed with excitement.”

Since being signed, Ms Maluwapi has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar and been lucky to walk some of this country’s biggest runway shows.

In 2021, as part of the Brisbane Festival, she walked in First Nations Fashion + Design’s Walking in Two Worlds show and last year she debuted in Australian Fashion week – walking for Indigenous Fashion Projects x David Jones and First Nations Fashion + Design’s closing show.

Around her work and other finalist commitments, Ms Maluwapi also has fundraising requirements she needs to complete.

“Part of the Miss Universe Australia program is that each finalist fundraises for Toybox Australia,” she said.

“Toybox Australia has been the official charity partner for Miss Universe since 2019.

“They are a children’s charity dedicated to raising funds to assist local, sick, and disadvantaged children nationwide. My mark is $5000 dollars.

“I think it’s a beautiful charity that we are putting our time and efforts into fundraising for because obviously they’re helping those in need, especially piccaninnies and families, which is so important.”

While Ms Maluwapi was part of a growing cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander models in the pages of Australian fashion magazines and on runways, she said she was often reminded how important being visible is for her community. because that’s the mirror effect.

“I’m filled with so much pride and power because all the time I get messages from smol girls, Aunties back home, sending me photos of babies with their Afros out saying, they saw a photo of you on the runway, they’re freaking out,” she said.

“They said they’re going to do this when they’re older.

I started modelling, I do what I do for my community, and so our future piccaninnies don’t grow up feeling like they have to settle for less, or that they can’t go into certain spaces because they haven’t seen themselves represented there.

“I’m just so excited, and I can’t wait for other little piccaninnies to see this, no matter how far I go in the comp.

“That’s us seeing ourselves represented in someone else, and when they’re doing something, it makes us believe we can do that.

“It’s pretty incredible and I’m so, so proud to be representing my community.”

“Honestly, it’s like I’ve always said since

“Just to see that they can do it, even if they feel like they can’t,

If you’d like to support Sene on her quest to raise $5000 dollars for Toybox Australia you can donate here: https://tinyurl. com/3aubb9ba

TN0461 • 09/02/23

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