Chinese-Australian model and sociology graduate, 24, who turned away from EVERY agency when she first tried to become a model wins Miss Universe Australia - in its first pageant without a swimsuit contest

Chinese-Australian model wins 2018 Miss Universe Australia in Melbourne

Francesca Hung, 24, was crowned at the Sofitel in Melbourne on Thursday

It was also the first time the pageant did not have a swimsuit contest

By ADAM MCCLEERY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 16:54 BST, 28 June 2018 | UPDATED: 02:28 BST, 29 June 2018

A Eurasian model and sociology graduate from Sydney's Northern Beaches has been crowned Miss Universe Australia 2018.

Francesca Hung, 24, was crowned Miss Universe Australia during the ceremony on on Thursday night at at The Sofitel hotel in Melbourne.

Miss Hung, who has major modelling contracts with Westfield and Slate Swimwear, has a large online following, with more than 50,000 Instagram followers.

This year's competition was also the first to not feature a swimsuit section as organisers said they wanted to move away from judging contestants on their physiques

The Chinese-Australian model also has an arts and sociology degree from University of Sydney.

This year's competition was the first to not feature a swimsuit section as organisers said they wanted to move away from judging contestants on their physiques, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Miss Hung will now represent Australia at the Miss Universe competition.

The Chinese-Australian model also has an arts and sociology degree from University of Sydney which makes her a multi tiered threat at the competition

Miss Hung has also built up a large online following, with more than 50,000 followers on Instagram alone

Interestingly her modelling career almost never was, PopSugar reported.

'I was actually turned away from every Sydney-based agency when I first tried to get into modelling,' she said.

So Miss Hung said she spent the next three years building up her own portfolio and not giving up on her dreams.

Miss Hung now hopes to inspire a whole new generation in her own way

Prior to the pageant Miss Hung also spoke about what separated her from other contestants including her heritage

Prior to the pageant, Miss Hung also spoke about what separated her from other contestants.

'In Australia, we have a lot of beautiful Anglo-Saxon models however, I guess my draw card is that I am half Chinese, Irish and Australian heritage,' she said.

Miss Hung was inspired by the likes of Jesinta Franklin, Jennifer Hawkins and Rachael Finch who she said had her in awe and that she never saw herself achieving the same goal.

It was early on when Miss Hung was inspired by the likes of Jesinta Franklin, Jennifer Hawkins and Rachael Finch who she said had her in awe and that she never saw herself achieving the same goal

This years event will be held in the Philippines on November 26 and is the 67th Miss Universe pageant

However Miss Hung now hopes to inspire a whole new generation in her own way.

'I want to be a role model for kids growing up with multicultural backgrounds and show them that it's cool to be different,' she said.

This years event will be held in the Philippines on November 26 and is the 67th Miss Universe pageant.

Notable debuts at this year's pageant include contestants from Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia, while Greece, Belize and Kosovo have returned to the competition fold.

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