INTERVIEW with Michelle Gissara || Mrs. Australia Universal Global for 2023-2024

Written By Suzanne Dang

SD: Hi Michelle. Can you introduce yourself to my readers who don’t know you yet?

MG: Of course! Hello everyone, my name is Michelle Gissara and I am a proud Kardu Dimin/Kardu Yek Neninh Aboriginal woman who lives in Narrm (Melbourne), Australia. I work full-time as a Vice Chancellor's Indigenous Doctoral Research Fellow at RMIT University. This role encompasses teaching criminology classes and completing my PhD research, which is exploring Victorian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women and Indigenous trans/gender diverse peoples' lived experiences of image-based sexual abuse (the non-consensual sharing of intimate images). Additionally, I am a National Network Member for the Black Dog Institute's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre, helping others in her community by sharing her lived experiences of suicide and ill-mental health to remove stigma around mental health discussions for Indigenous Australians. Furthermore, I have been a volunteer visitor for the elderly for almost seven years, and value positively impacting my community. When I am not working or volunteering, I love to compete in cheerleading and pageantry, attend local community groups, sing, model, travel, and watch films. 

SD: You’re Mrs. Australia Universal Global for 2023-2024. Can you tell us more about it?

MG: So the Miss Universal Global Pageant system is based in Orlando, Florida, USA, and has divisions from multiple states in the US, as well as international contestants from around the world. They accept applications for women, men, kids, and trans/gender diverse peoples and are a pageant system that promotes diversity, empowerment, and helping others through volunteerism, charity, and philanthropy. The lovely Hung Pham will be launching the Australian branch of Miss Universal Global in 2025. Last year I competed as Mrs. Australia Universal Global and walked away with First Runner Up, Best in Daywear, a Kindness award for my charity work/work in mental health, and People's Choice. Winning People's Choice gives me the chance to return this July to represent Australia for the second time and I can't wait to see my international sash sisters, brothers, and friends, and show them what I have achieved since last year. 

Each contestant is judged in three areas of competition: Interview, Fun Fashion, and Evening Gown. There are also supermodel optionals where you get the chance to showcase your stage presence, fashion sense, and confidence. These include pretty in pink, best in black, talent, swimwear, and many more. Last year they introduced a national costume round which allowed us as international contestants to showcase our pride in our culture and Country. This year there is also a state costume round that I am looking forward to, as well as each contestant creating a scrapbook that we must put together before the pageant that showcases our appearances throughout the year of our reign. I've been working hard on my appearances in the community across the year and can't wait to see what everyone else has been up to as well. 

Please follow my journey to the crown at: https://www.facebook.com/MrsAustraliaUniversalGlobal/

Photo by Curt Patrick

SD: How did you become interested in pageants?

MG: I started my pageantry journey in 2019 at the Miss of Australia Pageant and placed First Runner-up in the Ms Division. I then re-entered in 2022 and came first. From this win, I was given the opportunity to represent Australia overseas as Mrs. Australia Universal Global in 2023 and placed First Runner-up in the Mrs Division. I entered as I wanted to meet new people, improve my confidence and self-esteem, and open up new opportunities and chances to highlight the platforms I am passionate about.

My pageant platform is suicide prevention in Indigenous communities. As someone with lived experiences of suicide and ill-mental health, I use my own story to impact those around me. I am part of a National Network of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people all around Australia who work together and within our communities to reduce stigma around suicide and ill-mental health in the community. Specifically with Indigenous suicide prevention, I stress the importance of social and emotional well-being for mob, which entails connecting to Country, community, culture, spirituality and ancestors, family and kin, and our body, mind, and emotions. This social and emotional well-being framework is extrinsically linked to our sense of self and our mental health. 

SD: What’s in your makeup bag right now?

MG: I really love Kosas, as it is makeup and skincare combined. I use their BB cream and bronzer, as well as their tinted eyebrow gel, which is my fav. I am also a huge fan of the Charlotte Tilbury blush wands and the Morphe Sun & Done Smooth-Gliding Bronzer Stick. Anything that makes makeup easy, as I am definitely a sleeping-in kinda girl. You also won't catch me anywhere without my Summer Fridays lip balm in Vanilla Beige or my Too Faced Kissing Jelly Gloss in Bubblegum. For skincare, I switch between Drunk Elephant Beste™ No 9 Jelly Cleanser or Jelly Ko Cinnamon Toast Sugar Scrub Foam, and either Drunk Elephant  Lala Retro™ Whipped Cream with their bronzing drops added, or I switch it up and mix my Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Anti-Pollution Sunshine Drops into Jelly Ko's Bubble Tea Steam Cream. With pageants I love having a hair and makeup artist do their thing, but I've been learning tips along the way, as we also do our makeup for cheerleading comps. Most days I just do my skincare and use lip gloss and eyebrow gel and I am ready to go. I love showcasing my natural beauty. Most people never believe my age when I tell them, so I must be doing something right! 

SD: What is your vision of success?

MG: Being happy in your life, what you are doing for yourself, what you are doing for others, and what you are doing in your community/communities. 

SD: If you could give one piece of advice to your 14-year-old self, what would it be?

MG: To just be yourself. Don't worry so much about what people think of you. What you think of yourself is the most important thing!

SD: Who are you most inspired by in the Pageant World and why?

MG: My pageant bestie, Chleo Eve, who won Miss Congeniality at the Miss Galaxy Australia crowning gala this year. She is determined, passionate, and we share the loss of our mothers in common. She does amazing work with Motherless Daughters Australia and has also created her own organisation called Bee Safe, Bee Aware, which advocates for road safety. Her perseverance and optimism are so inspiring and I love her.

I also love my pageant sis, Skyla Lauch. Skyla was our Miss Galaxy Australia for 2023 and represented Indigenous Australian culture with pride in America last year. I am so proud of mob who are paving ways in pageantry to hopefully inspire our younger ones to give it a try. Skyla is always taking opportunities to teach others about our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultures, engaging in fundraising and doing charity work, and she always leads by example. She is a ray of sunshine and I am so glad we met through pageantry.

SD: How have beauty pageants impacted your life and your career?

MG: Beauty pageants have made a positive difference in my life by increasing my connections and networks, as well as improving my self-esteem and self-confidence, which is part of my reason for entering originally. I think young women would benefit from entering pageantry and I know some pageants offer prizes for scholarship money for their education, which can provide so many opportunities. Pageantry also brings forward opportunities, such as to travel overseas, share your story and platform with the world, and network with like-minded people and make lasting friendships. I have made so many friendships through pageantry, such as with you, Suzi, and I love being inspired by everything that my fellow sash sisters do to raise awareness for important causes, volunteering, charity, and personal achievements. 

SD: What is your best beauty secret?

MG: It sounds cliche, but to get enough sleep every night, be positive in your life, and look after your mental health, and not having children definitely helps too!  ;)

Above: Michelle, Aunty Ada Peterson, and Skyla

Suzanne Dang
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