A stunning Australian ‘environmental warrior’ has walked away with the title of Miss Earth.
Melbourne-born Jessica Lane was crowned Miss Earth in Manila, the Philippines, beating 75 other contestants.
The event marked the first ever pageant for the 22-year-old, who is attending university on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
The Miss Earth pageant aims to raise the profile climate and environmental issues – something Jessica is passionate about.
‘I want to be a voice for mother nature,’ the stunning blonde told the Herald Sun after her win.
‘I am really here for the environmental advocacy side of things,’ she continued.
A stunning Australian ‘environmental warrior’ has walked away with the title of Miss Earth. Melbourne-born Jessica Lane (pictured) was crowned Miss Earth in Manila, the Philippines, beating 75 other contestants
She will be supported by runners-up Miss Air (Hrafnhildur Haralds from Iceland). Miss Water (Bea Millan-Windorski from the USA) and Miss Fire (Niva Antezana from Peru). All pictured
‘I do believe that pageants are an incredible platform for women to not only learn some incredible life skills, but to have the opportunity to amplify their voice for a cause.’
Jessica is the first ever Australian to win the title of Miss Earth and aims to continue her ‘environmental advocacy’ through the role.
She will be supported by gorgeous runners-up Miss Air (Hrafnhildur Haralds from Iceland). Miss Water (Bea Millan-Windorski from the USA) and Miss Fire (Niva Antezana from Peru).
It comes after Miss Earth USA designated wellness ambassadors to recognise mental health crises among contestants.
The move followed the death of Cheslie Kryst, 30, who jumped to her death from a Midtown apartment building in January 2022 after losing her battle with high-functioning depression.
Following her death, Miss USA announced it would be expanding its mental health services in an attempt to prevent another death after it failed to protect Cheslie – who openly talked about her struggles in the limelight.
It started integrating new workshops to help ‘avoid depression’ and to generate coping mechanisms.
Miss Earth USA followed in its footsteps, announcing what it claims will be biggest mental health initiative in the business – declaring that this is a pageant-wide issue.
The event marked the first ever pageant for the 22-year-old, who is attending university on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast
The Miss Earth pageant aims to raise the profile climate and environmental issues – something Jessica is passionate about
Many contestants came forward after Cheslie’s death to share their own struggles, including Miss Earth 2017 and one of Cheslie’s best friends, Andreia Gibau, 27, of Brooklyn, and current Miss Earth Eco Emma Loney, 25, of Wisconsin.
‘[Her death] made me realize it doesn’t matter how well known you are, what title you hold, how famous you are, mental health affects everybody’ Loney told DailyMail.com.
‘And that the pressures of pageantry are real and the expectations of being perfect or needing to be perfect are real.
‘I’ve definitely felt it myself and I was never Miss USA.’
Miss Earth USA’s National Director Laura Clark, who is currently based in Switzerland, decided after Cheslie’s death that it wouldn’t happened again, not just in her own pageant, but all pageants.
‘After Cheslie’s death, we said this is going to be a goal of ours to make sure that there is a clear initiative,’ Clark told DailyMail.com.
‘That was definitely the turning point for me, personally, as the leader in the pageant community.
‘To say that it’s all of our responsibility, to verbalize this and make this a priority in your organization and to say: “What is your plan?” And to put it out in the public and to make sure all your state directors and everyone understands that these are our policies that we are putting in place and this is the plan that we have to focus on.’
The initiative includes different seminars, mindfulness breaks during pageant week, as well designating 10 wellness ambassadors – who are not only within Miss Earth USA, but across all pageants in the US.
Beforehand, the Miss Earth USA pageant had offered goodie bags and consolation services backstage to its contestants who did not take home a ‘bigger crown.
It has since shifted its focus to ‘integrating wellness and mental health into every aspect of our program,’ Clark told DailyMail.com.
But in addition to the mindfulness breaks and and wellness ambassadors, Miss Earth also hired a licensed mental counselor to ‘develop a program’ for the ‘entire pageant community’ to eliminate the ‘go, go, go’ environment and teach women how to have goals outside a shiny crown.
If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact Lifeline 13 11 14, or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
‘I want to be a voice for mother nature,’ the stunning blonde told the Herald Sun after her win. ‘I am really here for the environmental advocacy side of things,’ she continued