Key Points
- Jessica Lane, a 22-year-old beauty queen from Queensland, Australia, made history by becoming the first Australian to win the Miss Earth 2024 title.
- Having spent nearly two months in the Philippines, Miss Earth witnessed the devastating impacts of climate change firsthand, experiencing six typhoons during her stay.
- An advocate for women and children’s welfare, Miss International Australia 2024 Selina McCloskey aims to use her platform to inspire positive change and empower marginalised communities.
The 22-year-old beauty queen from Queensland, Australia, Jessica Lane, made history by becoming the first Australian to win the Miss Earth title. Crowned on November 9, 2024, in the Philippines, Jessica’s victory marked a significant milestone for the country, making Australia the sixth nation to secure wins in all the prestigious Big Four international beauty pageants.
“Such an honour, really, to not only be Miss Earth Australia, which I thought was definitely the furthest I'd go in pageantry,” she said. “Then to come home as Miss Earth, being the first Australian to win a major pageant since 2004, when Jennifer Hawkins won Miss Universe. All I can do is continue that legacy and hope that Australia... as you said, we're not really a pageant country. But pageantry is an industry that promotes young women and their goals.”
Reflections on Her Time in the Philippines
Having spent nearly two months in the Philippines, Jessica Lane emphasized her commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation. She highlighted the potential of ecotourism in preserving the environment while benefiting communities.
“I fell in love with the biodiversity of the islands… I’m a big promoter of ecotourism. I believe that one should not travel and take from the land but rather have experiences and give back.”
During her visit, the beauty queen participated in activities promoting environmental awareness, including volunteering at a turtle care program in Palawan.
Lane also spoke passionately about her experiences in the country during the Miss Earth pageant, which coincided with devastating typhoons. “While I was there for not even two months, I saw six typhoons. It’s unlike anything I could have imagined. Seeing the destruction firsthand was heartbreaking,” she shared. Lane participated in relief efforts, providing food and clothing to affected communities.
“As Australians, with so much land, wealth, and generosity, we must support our neighbors like the Philippines, who are on the frontline of climate change. The rising sea levels threaten to submerge islands in the coming decades. We need systems in place to help climate refugees and invest in sustainable solutions,” she said.
Combating Fast Fashion
Jessica's advocacy centers on raising awareness about the detrimental effects of fast fashion and encouraging eco-conscious habits.
“I spent my entire life caring for our environment, our wildlife, and looking at new ways that we, as individuals, can make a difference,” she said. “I truly believe in the power of our actions. Each individual action may not seem like it has an impact, but when it gets down to it, it truly does.”
She sees her one-year reign as an opportunity to inspire collective action. Through her platform, Dress for Tomorrow, Jessica aims to educate people on the environmental impact of their fashion choices. With the festive season approaching, she encourages shopping locally and thoughtfully.
“One practice I would really recommend people use if they hope to shop more sustainably and reduce their carbon footprint during the Christmas season is to shop locally,” she said. “By promoting and providing a platform for local outlets, especially homemade gifts or family-run businesses, we can reduce CO2 emissions a lot more than one may expect.”
She highlighted the environmental costs of online shopping, which has surged since the pandemic. “When you include not only the maritime and air shipping fees and their CO2 emissions but further, the cost it may take to produce that item compared to shopping locally, it’s quite staggering,” she explained.
To create a more sustainable holiday season, she encouraged people to be intentional with their gifting. “Talk to the people that you love and make sure that the gifts you’re giving are something they actually want,” she said. “By thinking with your heart and shopping locally, we can seriously impact these gift-giving strategies and continue to help our Earth.”
Advocating for Action
Miss International Australia 2024, Selina McCloskey, also returned home with pride after representing the nation at the Miss International 2024 competition earlier this month in Tokyo, Japan. Among fierce global competition, Selina secured a spot in the Top 20, showcasing her grace and dedication on the international stage.
An advocate for women’s and children’s welfare, Selina uses her platform to amplify her mission of supporting vulnerable communities. “This is more than a title—it’s an opportunity to create meaningful change,” she shared.
