SUZI DENT PLACES THIRD OVERALL FOR AUSTRALIA AT MRS EARTH 2017 IN LAS VEGAS
Announcement posted by zanthii communications 13 Jun 2017
Australia's oldest beauty queen, Suzi Dent has proven age is but a number yet again by taking out third place overnight at the Mrs Earth 2017 pageant in Las Vegas.
Suzi, 55, also beat out beauties from 36 countries at the Southpoint Resort and Spa to claim the title of Mrs Earth Health 2017 – a title awarded to the delegate who best represents a positive image for all women, and a healthy mind, body and spiritual realm, regardless of their size or age.
“I woke up this morning, body aching and feeling on top of the world! I just came third for Australia in an international beauty pageant!” said Suzi.
“Apparently I beat women who won Miss World! Just goes to show that personality and 'being real' really do count!”
“As the reigning Mrs Earth Health 2017, I aim to promote mental, physical, and emotional awareness by showing that I'm comfortable in my own skin, and in a healthy mind, body and spirit at all times.”
The title of Mrs Earth 2017 was awarded to Mrs UK Robyn Morrison-Charlesworth, and runner-up was Mrs Canada Jane Gagne.
At fifty-five years of age and a typical tomboy, Suzi Dent is not your average beauty queen.
A positive mindset and an inspiringly quirky attitude has helped Suzi find her road to success.
Suzi’s positive ageing mindset is a huge influence on her ability to do what she does. Suzi is incredibly proud to be the first 55-year-young Mrs Earth Australia, and believes age is a state-of-mind rather than a life-defining figure.
Before Mrs Earth Australia, Suzi’s tomboy demeanour meant she had never even worn a formal gown, but she has a strong belief that the opportunities you are given in life should be accepted and cherished. Even if it means throwing away the shorts and joggers for sequinned frocks and high heels! This has been both a blessing and a challenge for Suzi, who admits she would never have perceived herself as a beauty queen.
Suzi believes that women and men age themselves out of life by developing negative connotations toward ageing. At 55, Suzi has never felt more alive and wants to encourage others to embrace the inevitable! Suzi’s fearless mindset is powerfully inspiring, and she is determined to “start a conversation” about positive ageing.
“I want to help other women celebrate and embrace being over 50. I’m a natural beauty, not a user of botox or fillers, and try to embrace a healthy mind and body with regular exercise and good nutrition,” said Suzi
“I am hoping to inspire women to stop paying attention to their age number, and be fearless about making changes in their lives, and to celebrate their wrinkles, life experiences and knowledge.”
Suzi’s road to beauty queen stardom in Las Vegas has been a challenging personal journey which she has embraced with the support of her husband of 26 years. Prior to the Mrs Earth beauty pageant, Suzi’s wardrobe consisted of baggy shirts, shorts and sneakers. With a background in hair and makeup artistry, Suzi is now experiencing what it’s like to be on the receiving end of the beauty experiences.
While the glamour of wearing frocks and learning to walk in high heels has brought excitement to Suzi’s life, her genuine passion is in helping others, and the Mrs Earth 2017 pageant has provided a platform for Suzi to spread awareness.
Suzi works closely with Soles4Souls, a charity that collects lightly worn shoes and distributes to those who have none, in countries all around the world. Living in Australia, having shoes is something that is taken for granted and donating them to Soles4Souls affords children the opportunity to receive an education and adults the opportunity to apply for jobs and support their family. What we see as a simplistic necessity can be a life-changing opportunity for others.
Suzi has developed a legacy project for 2017 aiming to introduce a shoe drive to every school in the country. As well as providing tremendous opportunity to others, donating shoes is beneficial to the environment. Suzi is passionate that this project will be the beginning of a long-term success, where children will be educated to make eco-aware, charitable decisions.
Suzi is determined to use her platform as Mrs Earth Australia 2017 to encourage men and women to embrace ageing and promote her legacy project for Soles4Souls. Her positive mindset and advocacy for ageing gracefully are what separates Suzi from the crowd.
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About Suzi Dent
Suzi Dent is 55 years young and hails from the beautiful Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
A proud mother to 15 year old six foot four Jack, Suzi and her husband of 26 years Don, relocated 14 years ago from Sydney where she was born and raised. They live in a home with solar powered electricity and are a passionate upcycling family. From furniture to clothes and household appliances, they have raised their child as a bargain hunter. With the knowledge that new in the box toys and clothes are not necessary and upcycled bargains can always be found, better and cheaper.
A multiple award winning television and advertising hair and makeup artist with 34 years experience, Suzi is a veteran of her industry and mentors apprentice makeup artists on a volunteer basis.
She is also a moulage special effects makeup artist, working with the police to create realistic wounds for training scenarios.
Completely changing the narrative of her life and getting out of her 30 year comfort zone of wearing shorts and runners and dressing in tomboy style, Suzi has embraced wearing dresses and learned to walk in high heels as a first time pageant Queen, to raise awareness about the charity soles4souls. Suzi credits the Mrs Earth pageant with changing her mindset and helping her to embrace and discover her inner glamorous self.
Wielding her sash and crown to create public awareness about her platform soles4souls, in January Suzi created a national campaign, when Bartercard Australia agreed to open their offices around the country as permanent drop spots for shoe donations. Soles4souls collect our new or lightly worn shoes to distribute to those who have none, in countries around the world. Having a pair of shoes allows children to get an education and adults to get a job and support their family and often our access to a constant supply of shoes is taken for granted. Fashion is the second biggest cause of landfill in the world, and Suzi is passionate about educating school age children about charity and eco-awareness and the pollution that our clothes and shoes cause. This is where Suzi is focussing her energy as she believes that providing the right education to our children using this simple initiative, will help change the future of our personal planet pollution.
Suzi has always been a passionate charity activist. As a hair and makeup artist she has worked with several charities, one closest to her heart is the Leukaemia Foundations national World’s Greatest Shave Campaign where for the past 9 years she has created and hand-made the miniature wigs and costumes for the famous ‘Chinville’ advertisements, which sees her turn upside down human chins into unique characters each year, helping to raise millions of dollars to help find a cure for blood cancer.
Being a positively motivating influence with women over 50 and starting a conversation around the world about ageing with a positive mindset, is a platform Suzi is very grateful for.
Her favourite mantra is “Age is but a number, it’s what you do with it that counts!”
Suzi's 2 minute video