Every girl dreams of being crowned a queen and with pageants such as Miss Universe they are given the opportunity to feel glamorous as they strut themselves in front of the judges to try and win the title. But the pageant world has been shaken up in the past couple of years with a some new pageants taking the scene. The less famous, Miss and Mister Deaf International.
Miss and Mister Deaf International is only in its first few years of running but has proved a major success for those with hearing impairments to feel just as beautiful as those who compete in Miss Universe.
The first of these many competitions began in America in 2005 when the first event held in Las Vegas would encourage an international event that would be in the planning stages for many years. From July 2010 began Miss and Mister Deaf International in conjunction with the world Deaf Expo. From this has become an annual event held around the world.
Miss Lauren Patrick a current resident of the Penrith area is one of those lucky few who have been selected to represent Australia alongside her fellow competitor and friend Samantha Fullarton after being crowned Miss Deaf Australia Runner-up 2012. Miss Patrick will be competing in Ankara, Turkey while Miss Fullarton will be competing at the same time at Miss Deaf World in Prague, Czech Republic.
Miss Patrick was born with a hearing impairment and since has struggled to fit in being the only one in her family to have a hearing impairment, and when she turned 9 her family chose to give her the gift of hearing by fitting her with a Cochlear implant which now allows her to hear.
Lauren chose to enter Miss and Mister Deaf International after a pageant earlier this year, held by the Deaf Club Australia, Miss Deaf Australia. It was the first pageant which Miss Patrick had ever entered and with the help and support of her family and friends she was able to be crowned the Runner-up and is now raising funds to help her represent Australia in this amazing opportunity.
“While learning Auslan last year, I heard about Miss Deaf Australia through the deaf community. After a lot of research, I then decided to apply. Together with two other finalist contestants, I competed and was crowned Miss Deaf Australia Runner-up, 2012. “, Miss Patrick said.
Miss Patrick is hoping to one day become a interpreter for the police force but the course will not be running until 2015, until then Miss Patrick will be learning the language on her own.
“When a great opportunity came up, I had to go for it. It was going to help me become more accepted by the Deaf Community. I decided to enter Miss Deaf Australia. I did receive both positive and negative comments about entering but I had to do this. It has already changed who I am. Preparing for Miss Deaf Australia was fun, challenging, stressful but mostly exciting. When the night of the event came around, my family and friends came and supported me. I thought wow they came and watched me! It was a great way of introducing myself into the Deaf Community.”, explained Miss Patrick about her decision to enter the pageant. “[I hope for] new opportunities and memories that will last a lifetime. The CEO of NOVA Employment, Martin Wren, has kindly offered to sponsor me during my time in Turkey. This sponsorship will allow me to fly to Turkey, accompanied by my interpreter, who can interpret many spoken and sign languages. I’m so grateful to have Martin, and Nova’s support, but I am still looking for any extra help that I can get, so any further contributions are welcome.”
Just like Miss Universe, the winner is chosen from their overall scores in Beauty, Talent and Intellect as well as their personal and humanitarian goals. The winners of Miss and Mister Deaf International will then spend the next year representing the deaf community around the world and undergoing official duties.
Miss Patrick will be leaving to represent Australia very soon but is still looking for support from the fellow community to help with her endeavour.
Donations are welcome and for further information please you can reach her via her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/PleaseSendMeToTurkeyToRepresentAustralia or also via email lauren_patrick91@hotmail.com
We wish both Lauren and Sam all the best for their journeys and hope they both bring home the crown for Australia.
Lauren Patrick and Samantha Fullarton at the Miss Deaf Australia Crowning 2012 held at Parramatta Rsl)
(Photo courtesy of http://missdeafaustralia.com/)
Kirra Mardel 