South West Woman Macey Fimmano explains her journey to State finalist in the Miss Universe Australia pageant

A model, mining machine operator and proud South West woman who smashes gender stigmas and strives to promote body positivity is in the running for the country’s most prestigious pageant crown. Macey Fimmano, 20, is one of 35 women that have been selected for the WA heats of Miss Universe Australia, which determines the nation’s competitor for the international contest watched by millions each year. The Harvey woman is one of the only candidates from regional WA and can’t help but giggle when her fellow competitors have never even heard of her hometown. But it is not just her country upbringing that is special about her — the young influencer thrives in her mining machinery operator role, in a sector dominated by males. Fimmano’s ambition to win is also driven by her goal to create a platform advocating for mental health, body positivity, building awareness around the LGBTQ+ community to help others see the beauty within themselves. Though she may model for professional photographers and boast an Instagram following of more than 12,000, Fimmano said it was the contest’s focus on applicant’s values and advocacies that drew her into applying. Speaking from a quiet park in her hometown of Harvey, Fimmano said there was a stigma behind the contest, but she had her sights set on the competition’s true meaning. “When you look at it it seems more focused on exterior beauty, but it’s not,” she said. “All the women I have met are doing something like environmental science or psychology, they are all chasing something, and they’re not just a beautiful exterior.” Fimmano said she hoped her different upbringing would work in her favour. “Breaking the stigma is a really big thing too, I wouldn’t participate in anything that judges you on things you can’t change,” she said. “I have just come from a different background and different environment, theirs (other competitors) is more based around study, whereas my work is very male dominated. “I’m a very unique case as well, something very different, I was a forklift operator for four years, it was fun and I loved it.” Fimmano said she applied for the contest almost on a whim. “I saw it pop up on my news feed and I just looked into it a bit more and I saw what it stood for and the journey you can take so I decided to apply,” she said. “It was so cool I completely forgot I applied for it and now it is a dream of mine.” “I met the other girls who had been selected and every single one was from Perth and didn’t know where Harvey was so I thought that was funny.” The Miss Universe Australia winner is not only offered a platform and title to help grow their own influence but also given a $20,000 business and education grant and a Rusty swimwear paid ambassadorship. Fimmano said though the process has been daunting she was not nervous for the on stage State finale held in May — dubbed as Miss West Coast — where contestants walk across stage and are asked questions in front of a live audience. “Of course I get nervous because I care but I don’t let that stop me, I don’t let that become a fear and I just move with it,” she said. “It’s normal to be nervous if you’re not nervous it just means that it doesn’t mean that much to you — it’s good, as much as it’s uncomfortable, it’s good.” “The finals we do a runway, we do that on stage, in heels, I don’t wear heels often.” Harvey plays its own role in Australian pageant history, having been home to 1969 Miss Australia Terri Knight. Fimmano said the community had really gotten behind her in the same way they did with Knight decades ago. “The response I got was amazing, it actually bought tears to my eyes, to have so much positive support,” she said. “I didn’t expect a response this big from the community, I did expect a positive response because it is a positive thing, but I’ve had people I haven’t seen in years or people that I don’t even know just show so much support.” Partnering with charity ToyBox Australia to raise funds for Camp Quality — a charity that provides fun experiences for children diagnosed with cancer — Miss Universe Australia asks contestants to to collect funds as part of the competition process. Hoping to raise $5000 Ms Fimmano said fundraising is a big aspect of being a Miss Universe candidate and is helping her affirm the importance of her own advocacies. “I have such strong morals and values, if I’m going to support something it has to be not-for-profit, all of it has to go towards what its for and that just affirmed it all for me.” “I’m a huge mental health advocate, that is my passion and my everything, and body positivity especially physical wellbeing,” she said. “(Getting selected) gave me a bit of direction and hope, I am able to have a bigger voice doing this, meet more people and have more opportunities to help.” The WA heat will take place later this year.