Miss Earth Australia Sheridan Mortlock/ARMIN P. ADINA
MANILA, Philippines — Australian beauty queen Sheridan Mortlock did not mince words when asked how she sees herself in the future, beyond her participation in the 2022 Miss Earth pageant.
“Ten years from now, you know, if we’re speaking ambitiously, [I plan to be] prime minister of Australia,” the reigning Miss Earth Australia titleholder said at a press conference arranged for her by beauty and wellness management company ProMedia at Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on November 4.
Mortlock said she would like to get into politics “straight away,” after she secures her double degrees in global sustainability and politics from the University of Wollongong. “Time is of the essence for climate change. Which is also why I’m doing this right now, right here, because this door of opportunity opened up to me,” she shared.
The 22-year-old student has set her eyes on a political path, and hopes to work on environmental legislation as prime minister to get Australia “on track to do international obligations.” She also said she hopes she could inspire other countries to do the same if she assumes the premier post in the Australian parliament.
The Philippine-based Miss Earth pageant was established to promote environmental awareness, and this attracted Mortlock to the annual competition. She said she has been aware of other global pageants, but she responded positively more to the Miss Earth platform, seeking “beauties for a cause” and championing the Earth’s preservation.
“The is exactly my life path and I’m gonna grab it by the horns and run with it,” declared Mortlock, who has joined the Miss Earth Australia pageant three times before capturing the national title.
Mortlock is in Manila for further training before embarking on the face-to-face phase of the 2022 Miss Earth pageant by the middle of the month. The international competition staged virtual competitions in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and is conducting a “hybrid” contest this year, incorporating both virtual and physical auxiliary events.
The Australian beauty will compete against 90 other delegates from all over the world. All participants are expected to arrive in the Philippines in time for the press presentation on November 14. Reigning Miss Earth Destiny Wagner, the first woman from Belize to win a major international beauty title, will fly to the Philippines on November 8.
The 2022 Miss Earth pageant will be staged at the Cove Manila pool club of Okada Manila in Parañaque City on November 29. This was the same venue of the last physical staging of the international competition in 2019.
American-Filipino psychology student Jenny Ramp from Pangasinan will represent the Philippines in the Miss Earth pageant’s 22nd edition. Four Filipino women have won the title – Karla Henry in 2008, Jamie Herrell in 2014, Angelia Ong in 2015, and Karen Ibasco in 2017.
No Australian woman has ever captured the title, but the “Land Down Under” had an impressive run from 2015 to 2017 with two Miss Earth-Air titleholders – Dayanna Grageda and Nina Robertson – and one Top 16 finisher.
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