Miss Universe Australia Francesca Hung hits back at haters
Eurasian model Francesca Hung, from Sydney, took out the prestigious Miss Universe Australia title for 2018 last week.
And after claiming to have felt underestimated by her critics for years, the fierce 24-year-old has taken aim at the pageant's haters.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph on Thursday about the potential of axing the bikini segment of the competition, Francesca didn't hold back.
'If you don't want to see it – don't watch it!' Miss universe Australia Francesca Hung (R) hits back at haters after the bikini section was axed in Miss America Pageant
'With a beauty pageant, if you don't agree with it or you don't want to see girls strutting around in bikinis, then you don't have to watch it,' she said.
'We have chosen to be in this for a reason. It makes us feel empowered and strong and beautiful... It is our choice, and I think people need to allow others to have their choice.'
The brunette beauty stunned in a white bikini during the contest, which saw her quite emotional during her coronation.
'It makes us feel empowered and strong and beautiful... It is our choice': The sociology graduate claimed the swimwear component was welcomed by majority of the contestants
'Being Eurasian I didn't think that was me': The Chinese-Australian model wasn't sure she 'had the face' to take the crown because of her Chinese heritage
The sociology graduate from Sydney's Northern Beaches recently told The Morning Show: 'Growing up and just seeing past winners like Jesinta Franklin and Jennifer Hawkins I thought those were the faces Australia was looking for. Being Eurasian I didn't think that was me.'
'I was actually turned away from every Sydney-based agency when I first tried to get into modelling,' she said.
In June, Miss America revealed that they would be doing away with the controversial bikini segment in a bid to prioritise the personalities of contestants over their physical appearances.
'I was actually turned away from every Sydney-based agency': Francesca claimed her start in modelling was met with years of rejection
Rather than parading themselves around in swimwear, participants in the US event will now highlight their life achievements and goals to the judges, Herald Sun reports.
At the time, organisers of Miss Universe Australia insisted they would not be scrapping the iconic swimsuit component of the pageant, despite their US equivalent announcing plans to do so.
While admitting that it is a divisive element of the competition, creative director Sophia Barbagello claimed it is still too well-liked in Australia to justify dropping it from the event.
Miss Universe Australia is the most high-profile local beauty competition, and has launched the careers of Jennifer Hawkins, Erin Mcnaught, Jesinta Franklin, Rachael Finch, Olivia Rogers and Samantha Frost.
Miss Hung will now represent Australia at the upcoming Miss Universe competition in the Philippines on November 26.