Australia has won the Miss Universe title twice in the past – Kerry Anne Wells in 1972 and Jennifer Hawkins in 2004. For the 71st Miss Universe, Miss Universe Australia Monique Riley – who is a 27-year-old actress, model and executive assistant – will be wearing a National Costume inspired by the paddle pop skies of Australia when the sun is setting over the ocean (see photos of the same in this entry).

With the tough competition ahead, Monique should really turn on her articulate self to wow the judges and other candidates and be picked as a contender. To date, there has been a dearth of online interviews with her. But I trust that she has the proper communication skills for the mission at hand.