A Budgeree woman who at 50 years of age decided to swap academia for the glamour world of modelling has just been picked as a Mrs Australia Continent beauty pageant finalist.
Leanne Potter is on her way to strut her stuff on the runway with 15 contestants, in front of a judging panel at the national titles in Sydney in November.
“Every single thing about myself, I’ve had to challenge, about how I looked and who I was. Before I began this, I didn’t even know how to do make-up,” Ms Potter said.
“I encourage other older women to enter, it’s been so much fun.”
The first-time contestant decided to throw her tiara in the ring after taking up modelling eight months ago with her daughter Lauren.
She had been getting a few catalogue gigs, when the agency encouraged her to have a go at the pageant. The competition has teen, Miss and Mrs Australia sections. There are no age, height or weight restrictions for the Mrs Australia section which is open to any married woman.
Ms Potter had to submit photos and pass an in-depth interview about her community and charity work and discuss her ideas around what being an Australian means to her.
The fifth-generation Budgeree local has been campaigning hard to protect the historical community school from falling down and is active on the local hall committee.
She is also a volunteer Life Line Gippsland phone counsellor and hopes to use her pageant profile to raise awareness about rural mental health.
“The whole ethos of this competition is about empowering women which is not something you associate with beauty pageants. It’s about people shining in their own beauty,” she said.
At first, Ms Potter was sceptical about the much-maligned modelling world but found the other women were friendly and supportive of each other.
“There is a stigma around beauty pageants, the whole concept is like you are being judged at a cattle show. It goes against the feminist movement,” she said.
“But I believe it can put women in touch with their femininity. Why can’t women be feminine as well as having a successful career?”
