By Fadi El Haje | Freelance Journalist - Writer
A line-up of luscious Australian ladies of a Lebanese Background, wearing the barest of bikinis, set the temperatures soaring in Sydney last Sunday as they fiercely competed for the title of Miss Lebanon Australia Beauty Pageant 2014, The event was Held at Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf, The entire heritage wharf was transformed into an immaculate runway for the contestants to strut their stuff. From the sides of the runway friends and family of the contests along with special guests enjoyed a 4 course meal with traditional Middle Eastern mezze. The Pageant Contest attracted major sponsors, like the Arab Bank Australia, Ghossayn Group, The Metro Group, Noble Suzuki, Orient Travel, Charles Jewellers, and the Parramatta property baron Joe Khattar of Dyldam Group, Vogue Studios, Paradise Pro by Mik Zakaria, and Arabic Pages Anthony Alam. A big number of community leaders joined the list of attendees, and many dignitaries was attended who showed a great interest in this annual cultural event, Other dignitaries include the Hon Shaoquett Moselmane MLC, The Hon. John Ajaka MLC, Senator Concetta Fifrravanti-Wells, Criminal Lawyer Rick Mitry, families and friends of the Contests.
The Annual Event Pageant, which has become a huge community event, this year includes 11 women of Lebanese descents aged from 17 to 26, are high achievers studying a range of subjects from Mechanical Engineering to Law and Medical Science. The winner of the pageant will travel to Beirut to compete against women from more than 32 countries in the Miss Lebanon World pageant. The pageant also includes the crowning of Miss Lebanon Charity Queen, a title given to the woman who raises the most money. The funds are given to children who have been orphaned and maimed by war in Lebanon
Master Ceremony Mr Joe Chaar, and Ms Ella Elias, and The Pageant Contestants are; It was about pride in their heritage and community and these eleven beauties put their best foot forward on the ramp to impress the panel of Judges and the Experts in Fashion, Beauty and Media.
11- Miss Conjugality Kelly O'connor (24)
10- Miss Best Smile Christina Barakat (17)
9- Miss Run Way & High Achiever Award Taylor Fahd (20) also the Designer of this Pageant Bikinis
8- Miss Model Reina Chehab (18)
7- Miss Personality Jasmine Hamade (18)
6- Miss Fashion Micheline Mokdassi (17) – Designed her own Evening Dress
5- Miss Fitness Gemma Sarkis (24),
4- Miss Elegant Rema Jamal (26)
3- Miss Charismatic Wear Vanessa Tamer (17) 1st Runner Up Winner – Medical Science Student
2- Miss Swim Wear Sarah Habib (18) 2nd Runner Up Winner, Business Administration.
1- Miss Photogenic Cynthia Farah (19) Taking the crown at the end of the night, The Beauty Pageant Queen and winner - A High Distinction Mechanical Engineering Student.
Cynthia Farah – Winner of the Beauty Pageant Contest 2014
The 19 years old Cynthia Farah has made the Australian Lebanese Community proud by winning the Miss Lebanon Australia Beauty Pageant 2014 title outclassing 10 other contestants in Sydney. Cynthia looked great parading on catwalk in her casual wear, her Swimming Suite and Cynthia looked gorgeous in the evening gown as she was being crowned by Dyala Bachour the Former Miss Lebanon Australia Beauty Pageant 2013. Cynthia mesmerised the jury and the audience with her poise, beauty and intelligence and came out as a unanimous winner in the 15th years of the Pageant. She loves Reading, Exercising, Rythmic Gymnastics and Violin, and is currently a student of Mechanical Engineering. She also won a Toyota Car, Holiday, Jewelry and a heaps of Valuable Prizes. Cynthia will now represent Australia against 32 countries in the International Miss Lebanon pageant later this year in Beirut.
Monie Gabriel – The Pageant Art Director
The Pageant Contest was organised by Joseph Khoury - Editor In Chief of The Future Newspaper, and The Director of Miss Lebanon Australia Beauty Contest 2014. And was choreographed by Suzie Touk - The Event Coordinator, Layla Yarak - Miss Lebanon International 2013, and Monie Gabriel the Head of Beauty and Art Management for Miss Lebanon Australia, exclusively tells me what it takes to be a winner at a beauty pageant.
The Pageant's Beauty and Art Director Monie Gabriel, explained what contestants do primarily need to win a beauty pageant? "It’s a collective effort by large team that made this Event possible, this event is about whatever religious group, to brings the Lebanese community together, to be proud of who we are. There are both Muslim and Christian girls competing, the pageant is not about politics but about beauty, heritage, and contribution to the community. We raise money for charity, it's a get-together. On the other hand the most important thing is for the contestants to have a vision, a vision that you want to be there as the winner. Then, they need to work hard towards that goal, supported by a lot of trainings such as watching fashion videos, practicing ramp walking at home, and learning about beauty and hair care, also keeping up with fashion trends, and trendy brands. Last but not the least, to be a winner, personal hygiene is a must. Getting rid of unsightly hair, taking good care of their skin and hair and having a proper exercise regime are all very important too."
I asked Monie what did you do to train and groom the girls for this contest? "Almost all of them had never set foot on a ramp before or had never faced a camera. Frankly through a lot of hard work and many hours to get the best out of them. So, I taught them how to walk, how to pose, helped them to do their own introductions to the judges, helped them with their diction, gave them make-up tips and advised them on their dress sense and how to carry off the garments on the ramp." She added "competition of this kind is a nerve racking, dealing with the crowed & cameras and judges make the best in the industry nervous and edgy. And Part of our tasks also to help the newcomers in dealing with pressure and to keep them focus with a lot of tips to help them impress the judges and ultimately win the title and the many wonderful prizes"
0 comments:
Post a Comment