MANILA, Philippines — After winning the coveted Miss Earth title last November, Earth warrior Jessica Lane went back to the Land Down Under to a homecoming fit for a queen.
"One of my advocacies is on fashion sustainability. While fast fashion may be a trend, there is no individuality to it as everybody looks the same. Don't keep up with celebrity fashion. Recycle prior and pre-loved items. Beauty should not come at the cost of Mother Earth," said the 21-year-old titleholder.
"I love to dress up. As a History buff, I love to recreate the looks that Marie Antoinette donned for the royal court. I used to sport long hair but I've cut my mane and sold it for the benefit of leukemia patients. I have my mind and heart in the right place," Jessica told Philstar.com in an interview.
Jessica has also been an ardent advocate for the preservation of the planet, deeply passionate about the well-being of marine life. "I support crusades that cause emissions and the protection of marine life, without sacrifice to our ailing planet. We all need to protect it.
"People look up to us and call us beauty queens every day. When in reality, I just want to be a voice for the earth, as I have been all my life. To have these platforms of sustainable fashion and marine life protection is such an incredible honor," she said.
The Australian beauty queen has been actively working with Australian organizations to save caetaceans caught in nets and send them back free to the open waters. Jessica has consistently been part of wildlife care since working at the Australian Zoo, when she was still a 15-year-old teenager.
Australia now joins the Philippines in the elite circle of powerhouse countries that includes Puerto Rico, Venezuela, and the United States of America. Winning crowns from the four major titles — Universe, World, International, and Earth — is the only way to qualify as a pageant powerhouse!
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