Gold Coast’s Taylah Cannon crowned Miss World Australia

Amy Price, The Courier-Mail

August 31, 2018 11:00am

GOLD Coaster Taylah Cannon was last night crowned Miss World Australia 2018, in the first-ever national final held in Queensland.

Moments after receiving the title at Palazzo Versace, the 23-year-old vowed to become Australia’s first Miss World winner since 1972.

“I want to bring the crown home. That’s my main focus. I’ll give it my everything,” she said.

Cannon will now attend the international Miss World pageant in China in December.

Sydney’s Lavinia White was named first runner-up while Brisbane’s La’Ace de Vries was second runner-up for the second consecutive year.

“It doesn’t feel real. They called my name and I hugged Lavinia and couldn’t let her go because I was shaking and crying. I was overwhelmed,” Cannon said.

Taylah Cannon has been crowned Miss World Australia. Picture: John Gass/AAP
A makeup artist who studied veterinary nursing, Cannon entered the pageant for the first time this year after making a new year’s resolution to do something out of her comfort zone every day.

“I’ve never done anything like this in my whole life. I felt like I wanted to find where my purpose lies and it led me to Miss World,” she said.

“It aligned with everything I want to do in life, but I never thought that I would win. I feel like it was my purpose”.

Cannon was one of the top fundraisers, raising close to $13,000 for Variety, and was fast-tracked to the top 10 after winning the top model competition on Wednesday.

She is the fifth Queensland winner in six years.

After Queensland snatched the national pageant from Victoria this year, organisers have confirmed the event will return to Gold Coast in 2019.

Samara Welbourne, Yasman Ildes and Taylah Cannon ahead of the announcement. Picture: John Gass/AAP

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/gold-coasts-taylah-cannon-crowned-miss-world-australia/news-story/5f39cb029b599b5ac66304ce4cf35d5c