Sarah Davies: A kind-hearted beauty queen

Sarah Davies: A kind-hearted beauty queen

Leony Aurora, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

It is a fact of life that beautiful people attract more
attention than less-beautiful, ordinary souls -- otherwise
calendars and brochures would not have all those gorgeous, slim
models with legs that seem to go on forever.

"But without a kind heart, you cannot be a beauty queen," Miss
World Australia 2004, Sarah Davies told The Jakarta Post on
Thursday.

Indeed, although radiant looks may entitle one to a first
glance, courtesy and respect are what will create a positive
lasting impression on people.

Such is the spirit radiated by Sarah when she shared her
experiences with the participants of the first-ever Miss ASEAN
pageant, which was held in Jakarta on Saturday.

Miss ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations,
aims to select the best representatives of the 10 countries in
the region to promote tourism, trade and investment across the
world.

Beauty queens from Australia and other ASEAN neighbors like
China and India, have been invited to liven up the festivities
and make the event a more prestigious one.

"They (the participants) are really talented," said Sarah to
describe the Miss ASEAN aspirants that she met. "They're already
winners for getting this far."

The 22-year-old university graduate serves as quite an example
for the participants. A woman of many talents, Sarah speaks two
other languages -- Chinese and French -- aside from her mother
tongue, and plays the violin as well as percussion instruments.

Upon finishing her studies at Queensland University of
Technology, majoring in communications and public relations,
Sarah entered the Miss World pageant and won at the national
level in September last year.

At the Miss World pageant in China later in 2004, she was one
of the top 15 finalists from the 107 beauty queens participating,
and won the contestants' choice award.

Now, during her one-year tenure as Miss World Australia, she
travels extensively throughout the Asia-Pacific region to attend
charity events and support the Miss World organization and its
sponsors.

"It's very touching when I can help others. That's the part I
love best," said Sarah.

For her, beauty is a good way of promoting tourism. "It's
definitely a good door opener. (As beauty queens) you can talk to
people about where you come from and what it is like there," she
said, while adding that she also likes to talk about other places
she has visited.

"I'll tell (people) about Jakarta and how lively and busy and
all the businesses that are here," said Sarah, who wants to go to
Bali to explore the paradise island again after an earlier visit.

"I'll definitely encourage more people to come here to
Indonesia."