Health key to triumph for Miss Universe Australia Rachael Finch

RACHAEL Finch stumbled on a question about the challenges of federal government, but that didn't stop the Townsville model from claiming the Miss Universe Australia title last night.

The 20-year-old model and TV presenter beat a field of 30 in a lavish ceremony at Sydney's Hilton Hotel last night.

The leggy brunette won over the judges despite getting tongue-tied during the Q&A section of the contest.

Asked to name the greatest challenges facing the Rudd Government, the aspiring author of a self-help book said "a variety of things" before settling on healthy living.

Finch is an ambassador for the Australian Heart Foundation.

"I just did the best I could," she said after the ceremony. "People just need to be aware of their finances. They need to learn, listen and adapt to their budget and lifestyle."

As well as more than $25,000 in prizes, the new Miss Universe Australia will earn the right to compete in the Miss Universe World finals to be held in the Bahamas in August.

Laura Dundovic, last year's winner, who crowned Finch, dismissed suggestions that beauty pageants were oudated.

"Jennifer Hawkins has shown it's not only a year but a career," Dundovic said, referring to 2004 winner Hawkins, who went on to become Miss Universe and the face of department store Myer.

Last night's competition compromised three categories: swimwear, evening wear and a question-and-answer session with the panel of seven judges.

Judges were looking for what contest organisers called "social intelligence".

"They'll be looking for someone who's warm and intelligent," Miss Universe Australia national director Deborah Miller said before the announcement.

"They'll be looking for someone whom the Australian public can relate to."

An attractive figure is also a key part of getting to the Bahamas. "A girl who looks fit and healthy will be marked higher," Ms Miller said.

Contestants answered questions from the seven-member judging panel, including former Noiseworks frontman Jon Stevens, with queries such as what they would say about Australia to an international audience.

The runner-up was Victorian cheerleader Jade Russell. This year more than 7000 women registered, double last year's total. Ms Miller said the standard of entrants showed the contest was not just about physical beauty.

"We're seeing a lot more well-educated and professional young women this year, including those from legal and medical professions, who are hoping to emulate the success of previous winners."

"Follow your Dreams" says Miss Australia Universe, a TV Presenter

Follow your dreams and reach for the stars because one day you will get there.

So says Rachael Finch, a beautiful brown-eyed brunette from Townsville who was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2009 at Sydney's Hilton hotel last night.

The 20-year-old model and television presenter beat 31 other finalists to win the award formerly won by Jennifer Hawkins, who then famously went on to become Miss Universe in 2004.

That same year, Finch took out the Queensland young model of the year title in Townsville's Opal Fashion Bash pageant.

Model scout Henry Peterson encouraged her to enter the pageant after spotting her "underneath the wings of a Boeing 747 at Townsville Airport".

"When I first saw her I knew she was special," he said.

"I told her: 'You'll be bigger than Jennifer Hawkins.'"

Finch has since moved to Sydney, where she has obtained work through Chadwick model agency.

She is also a television presenter with Platinum Television, which provides video content for bars and events.

She described winning the Miss Universe Australia title as surreal.

"How do I describe the feeling? What words do I use because to me it's like a dream," she said.

"I feel like I'm in, literally, a dream. It's surreal."

For others wishing to follow in her footsteps, she said it was important to "stay focused, stay humble and be true to yourself".

"Coming from such a small town it's not only somewhere to grow up that's naturally beautiful but you really learn the value of growing in that small community and you get a lot of support and love and you can take that in your heart and take that to a bigger city or move on with your life and your career and really make a change.

"Follow your heart and reach for the stars because one day you will get there and that is what this is all about."

Stephanie Naumoska in Miss Universe Australia skinny furore

THE Miss Universe Australia pageant has been hit with "skinny model" controversy after it was determined one entrant is officially malnourished.

Hurstville model Stephanie Naumoska, 19, is one of 32 girls from more than 7000 applicants to make the final in the event which promotes "healthy, proportioned, bodies''.

But Naumoska's gaunt appearance at a preview parade last night drew immediate criticism from onlookers, one saying she was "way too boney''.

"Contestants who had been eliminated were there and they said she clearly shouldn't have made the final because she is just too skinny,'' one said.

The model's agency website lists her as 180cm and weighing just 49kgs, which practicing dietician Melanie McGrice said gave her a Body Mass Index of 15.1.

"The World Health Authority rates people with a BMI of less than 18 as malnourished,'' she said today.

"She would be categorised as underweight and I would certainly want to be doing an assessment of her diet to make sure she doesn't have some type of eating disorder.

"With a BMI like that, she needs blood tests, diet analysis and an overall assessment.''

Naumoska was unavailable for comment and in rehearsals for tonight's event, but pageant director Deborah Miller reacted sharply to the suggestion she looked unhealthy.

"This girl has Macedonian heritage and if you have been there you would know it is a Macedonian body type,'' she said.

"They have long, lithe bodies and small bones _ it is their body type, just like asian girls tend to be small.

"So she does not have an eating disorder, there is nothing wrong with her.''

But nutritionist Susie Burrell said there was no such Macedonian body type.

"There is no evidence published anywhere to back up that assertion,'' she said.

"From examining photographs there does appear to be significant muscle wasting on the upper arm and legs.

"Individuals with a healthy BMI do not have such protruding bones _ especially around the rib and hip area.''

The finalists will parade in swimwear at the pagenat at the Hilton Hotel tonight, then parade in evening gowns before a final question and answer session with judges.

They include celebrity judges Deborah Hutton, Jon Stevens, designer Charlie Brown ad John Bailey, with panel head by pageant veteran Jonathan Westbrook.

"The swimwear section helps us determine if someone is fit, healthy and well proportioned,'' he said.

Miss Universe Australia in "skinny" controversy

Australia's Miss Universe contest was thrown into controversy on Thursday with doctors and dieticians complaining a leading finalist was "skin and bones" and dangerously malnourished.

Sydney model Stephanie Naumoska, 19, was one of 32 contestants from more than 7,000 hopefuls to make the glittering final at an event promoting "healthy, proportioned, bodies."

"Bony or beautiful?" newspaper headlines said over photographs of a gaunt Naumoska posing in a red string bikini.

Health professionals said Naumoska, who is 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) tall and weighs just 49 kg (108 lbs), had a body mass index of just 15.1, well under the official 18 benchmark for malnutrition.

"She would be categorized as underweight and I would certainly want to be doing an assessment of her diet to make sure she doesn't have some type of eating disorder," dietician Melanie McGrice told local newspapers.

"She needs blood tests, diet analysis and an overall assessment."

Pageant director Deborah Miller said brunette Naumoska, who was defeated in the final by 20-year-old television presenter and model Rachael Finch, had Macedonian heritage, which accounted for her extreme thinness.

"They have long, lithe bodies and small bones. It is their body type, just like Asian girls tend to be small," Miller said.

But Australian Medical Association president Rosanna Capolingua, whose organization represents Australian doctors, said the contest should impose a minimum BMI cut-off of 20.

"The most unhealthy part about it, though, is the image it is showing other young women who may view this as normal, when clearly it s not," Capolingua said.

While Naumoska refused to speak to media, nutritionist Susie Burrell told the Herald Sun newspaper there was no such thing as a Macedonian body type.

Eventual winner Finch will compete in the Miss Universe world finals in the Bahamas in August.

Rachael Finch becomes Miss Universe Australia

RACHAEL Finch, a beautiful brown-eyed brunette from Townsville, was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2009 at Sydney's Hilton Hotel last night.

The event was held at the same time as the winner of Cleo's Bachelor of the Year was announced on the other side of town.

Finch, a 20-year-old model and television presenter, beat 31 other finalists to win the award formerly won by Jennifer Hawkins, who then famously went on to become Miss Universe in 2004.

That same year, Finch took out the Queensland young model of the year title in Townsville's Opal Fashion Bash pageant.

Model scout Henry Peterson encouraged her to enter the pageant after spotting her "underneath the wings of a Boeing 747 at Townsville Airport".

"When I first saw her I knew she was special," he said.

"I told her: 'You'll be bigger than Jennifer Hawkins'."

Rachael has since moved to Sydney, where she has obtained work through Chadwick model agency.

She is also a TV presenter with Platinum Television, which provides video content for bars and events.

She described winning the Miss Universe Australia title as surreal.

"How do I describe the feeling? What words do I use because to me it's like a dream," she said.

"I feel like I'm in literally, a dream. It's surreal."

For others wishing to follow in her footsteps, she said it was important to "stay focused, stay humble and be true to yourself".

"Coming from such a small town it's not only somewhere to grow up that's naturally beautiful but you really learn the value of growing in that small community and you get a lot of support and love and you can take that in your heart and take that to a bigger city or move on with your life and your career and really make a change.

"Follow your heart and reach for the stars because one day you will get there and that is what this is all about."