As a national finalist for Miss Galaxy Australia 2025, I wanted to share a part of my journey to encourage any young person experiencing bullying, mental health or body image issue to embrace what makes them unique.
When I was starting high school, I moved interstate to a small regional town that didn’t have much racial diversity, I was one of very few coloured people within my school environment. Because of this I felt out of place and like I didn’t belong. This was when the bullying started due to my differences. Additionally, I was being told by some family members that these issues were the result of my being “too fat” and “my general appearance”. This was the start of my medically diagnosed mental health issues.
I come from a mixed race family with my mother being Australian and my father being Sri Lankan. I had comments from within the community made about my skin tone and “retuning to my home land”. These negative comments resulted in self talk such as I wasn’t good enough, or pretty enough, or skinny enough, or attractive enough in any way.
During this time, my mum tried to make me feel better about my skin colour by telling me that one day those girls who were teasing me would be very jealous and paying a lot of money for their fake tans to look just like me. I thought she was funny and that day would never come. (spoiler: it did). She worked hard in helping me understand that there was cultural and physical differences but there were also similarities that existed. These were not things that people should be judged on, these were not good, bad, right or wrong. They were just “differences”.
My mum wanted to give me some self-confidence and booked both of us in to do a 50s Pin-Up Photoshoot. This experience allowed me to see myself through a difference lens. While selecting photos I saw this gorgeous girl glowing back at me and those voices (both my internal and those external) were wrong. The photoshoot encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and start to participate in different things.
After finishing school, I took myself to a new dance class it was petrifying but as soon as the music started I felt free, confident and attractive. To this day I still dance, and splurge on the occasional photoshoot to keep reminding myself of the gorgeous creature I am.
I remember vividly sitting on a screening couch and asking the photographer “who was displayed on the projecter screen? She’s gorgeous” only for them to tell me it was me.
I have learned through my journey, not to listen to those around you who want to bring you down.
You will find your tribe one day!
If you want to do it, go and do it! Live your life without regrets.
My next big adventure is the Miss Galaxy Australia 2025 National Finals, I am anxious but excited, stepping onto the stage out of my comfort zone but ready to give it 100%. I hope that my story inspires anyone who feels less than they should to believe in themselves and reach for the stars.
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