'The focus is less on visuals and more on our personalities!' Miss Universe Australia NSW finalist Veronica Cloherty hits out at critics who label pageants as objectifying

By MONIQUE FRIEDLANDER FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA

PUBLISHED: 05:08 GMT, 24 March 2019 | UPDATED: 09:18 GMT, 24 March 2019

Miss Universe Australia has received it's fair share of criticism over the years, with detractors claiming that the pageant objectifies women and perpertuates sexist views.

But Miss Universe Australia NSW finalist Veronica Cloherty, 26, has urged naysayers to 'do their research' on the pageant world, insisting that the competition prioritises brains over beauty.

'The audition process now focuses more on you as a person, your intelligence, what you know and what your opinion is,' Veronica told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday.

'The focus is less on visuals and more on our personalities!' Miss Universe Australia NSW finalist Veronica Cloherty (pictured), 26, has out at critics who label pageants as objectifying and sexist

'The focus is on empowering women and making sure women feel like they are being heard', she added.

While Veronica admitted organisers do ask the women to submit photos of themselves, she claimed that 'the main focus is on a video diary we need to submit saying a bit about ourselves and why we are entering the competition.'

It comes after US-based pageant Miss America made headlines for scrapping its controversial in a bid to prioritise the personalities of contestants over their physical appearances.

Brains not beauty! 'The audition process now focuses more on you as a person, your intelligence, what you know and what your opinion is,' Veronica (pictured) told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday

'We're not going to judge you on your appearance because we are interested in what makes you you,' said Miss America organiser Gretchen Carlson while making the announcement on ABC's Good Morning America last June.

Rather than parading themselves around in swimwear, participants in the US event highlighted their life achievements and goals to the judges.

Despite this, organisers of Miss Universe Australia announced in June last year that they wouldn't be removing the controversial swimwear section.

What's inside counts! While Veronica (pictured) admitted organisers do ask the women to submit photos of themselves, she claimed that 'the main focus is on a video diary we need to submit saying a bit about ourselves and why we are entering the competition'

While admitting that it is a divisive element of the competition, creative director Sophia Barbagello claimed it is still too well-liked in Australia to justify dropping it from the event.

Miss Universe Australia is the country's most high-profile local beauty competition.

The contest has launched the careers of Jennifer Hawkins, Erin Mcnaught, Jesinta Franklin, Rachael Finch, Olivia Rogers and Samantha Frost.

Don't judge a book by its cover! The brunette (pictured) urged naysayers to 'do their research' on the pageant world

Rise to fame: Miss Universe Australia is the country's most high-profile local beauty competition, having launched the career of supermodel Jennifer Hawkins (pictured)

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-6843883/Miss-Universe-Australia-NSW-finalist-Veronica-Cloherty-says-pageants-arent-objectifying-anymore.html