Troy Barbagallo confirms Miss Universe Australia finalists to vie for crown on virtual stage

Headshot of Lily Hoffmann
Lily Hoffmann
PerthNow
September 18, 2020 3:00PM

For many, having to virtually model a bikini would elicit fears of angles, lighting or accidentally dialling into the wrong zoom call.

But for Miss Universe Australia WA finalists Diana Coniglio, Zara Edgar, Kya Pedrick and Tasha Marciano, a virtual stage is all they have left as they vie for one of the most coveted crowns in Australia.

Event organiser Troy Barbagallo confirmed to The West Australian that despite every attempt to forge ahead with a live Melbourne finale, they have been forced to make yet another change, taking their show virtual.

It comes after they cancelled their Bali finalist trip and postponed the original June finale.

It’s been a long runway to the finish line for Marciano, who has had to stay in ‘pageant mode’ almost all year.

Tasha Marciano.
Tasha Marciano. Credit: Danella Bevis/The West Australian
“It’s become more of like a lifestyle than a competition,” she said.

“I am a curve model, I’ve just tried to sort of do my usual thing and maintain a healthy lifestyle... but with the competition in the back of your mind, we are obviously in bikinis and that sort of thing, it has been hard to stay motivated.

“We’ve all just been within the program and the group of girls, everyone's been really supportive in trying to keep everyone motivated.”

The 26-year-old confessed that while there having been “feelings of disappointment (that) it didn’t pan out the way they thought” she is ready to embrace a “new normal”.

“From my understanding, there will be a hub in each state, so in WA we will have a hub with all the national finalists and we will have a film crew there, and that will essentially be pre-recorded,” she explained.

“I was talking about the zoom thing (on the Bachelor) and I was wondering if it was going to be something like that, but it’s going to be with a film crew and put together almost like a production.”

Punters will have to purchase a ticket to watch the show online, which will air on October 28, just days before the Miss Universe Organisation’s November 1 cut-off date to be eligible in the global pageant.

https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/beauty/troy-barbagallo-confirms-miss-universe-australia-finalists-to-vie-for-crown-on-virtual-stage-ng-b881669538z