It's 24/7 for pageant queen
Tiaras, glamorous gowns and sashes are all in a day's work for Perth- based pageant star Elise Natalie.
Being a professional pageant queen isn't easy, requiring Natalie to constantly stay in tip-top shape and present well whenever she leaves the house.
"I'm always in training so I'm watching my diet, going to the gym and doing regular exercise," the 25-year-old told AAA.
"You always have to think about your image - so how you present yourself and what you say."
Encouraged to try her hand at modelling by her long-term illusionist boyfriend, Australia's Got Talent grand finalist Adam Murby, Natalie entered her first pageant five years ago while completing a degree in accounting and business law.
"I met him when I was doing my accounting degree and he questioned me about what I actually wanted to do in life and I told him I'd always wanted to try modelling," the blonde bombshell explained. "He inspired me to give it a go and ever since I've loved it."
Natalie recently returned from China where she competed in the inaugural Queen of Brilliancy International pageant, facing off against 99 other beauties from all over the world.
"It was really exciting - I won Miss Photogenic and Best National Costume. It was a fantastic experience," she revealed.
"It was a lot of work - we had five hours of rehearsals each day leading up to the finals. We also had something every night and would go to bed at 1am and be back up at 6am. I found it very demanding but also very rewarding."
While most competitors eventually become her friends, Natalie has encountered jealousy and underhanded antics backstage at pageants.
"There's a lot of bitchiness - you hear girls talking about you. They get very intimidated and let their emotions out and say things about you," she said.
"I take it as a compliment and look at it positively. If someone is saying something about you it means they're threatened by you and it means that they generally think you have the potential to win."
