By Luke Voogt
Lara’s Amber Dew was “shocked” when officials at the 67th Miss International pageant placed a $100,000 tiara on her head in Japan.
The 21-year-old placed third runner-up, or fourth overall, from 72 contestants in the world’s third-most prestigious pageant.
“I honestly didn’t expect to even place top 15,” Amber said.
“Australia has placed only twice in the last 23 years, so it was definitely something I wasn’t expecting.
“I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t stop smiling and thinking of how lucky I am to have gotten so far.”
Her “balanced lifestyle” paid off when she won the competition’s Miss Body award.
“I still can’t believe I won this title – I’m really happy that I achieved this without starving myself,” she said.
“I eat mostly healthy during the week and then on the weekends I like to socialise and bake treats.”
Amber made her Japanese TV debut during her four-week whirlwind tour of the country and will star alongside four other contestants in a local Panasonic commercial when it airs later this year.
She spent an extra week doing charity work and meeting government officials, businesspeople and models with the winner and other runners-up.
Her trip took her to the gorgeous mountains of Nikko national park.
“It had breath-taking scenery with the lakes and bright-coloured autumn leaves – we couldn’t stop taking photos of it,” she said.
“The most beautiful part of Japan though was the people – they are all so caring, genuine and humble.”
Amber said a few girls “left the pageant due to pressure” and she admitted she was “very intimidated” at the start of the competition.
“Many of the girls had many years of experience and some had even been in Miss Universe and Miss World, which are the top two pageants in the world.
“But I had to remind myself that I need to be myself and enjoy the experience.
“Everyone was very friendly and no-one had any issues with each other – which is actually not always the case in international competitions.”
Amber said her mother wanted to take her to the “pageant capital of the world” – the Philippines – to train.
“Mum is really proud of me and tells everyone about it!” she said. “We have hopes for me to be on the Miss Universe stage one day.”
Amber planned to continue her support of ovarian cancer charity Teal Wings of Hope, run a workshop for aspiring models and finish her studies at Deakin University.
“In the future I would like to be the CEO for an advertising agency and be a major pageant director or run a model school,” she said.
