Miss Universe Australia 2013 Australian Costume Competition - presented by Face of Australia Cosmetics: choose the dress

Each year, the dress that is meant to represent Australia in the Miss Universe Australia 2013 Australian Costume Competition - presented by Face of Australia Cosmetics - surfaces and it always promotes, er, lots of healthy debate.

And this year's offering - revealed this morning on TV's 'Sunrise' and again on 'The Morning Show' - is no different.

Over the past few months, budding designers have submitted entries for The Miss Universe Australia 2013 Australian Costume Competition presented by Face of Australia Cosmetics.

Now the top four has been chosen - and... YOU get to choose the winning dress.

Here they are:

A staggering one billion people around the globe will see this Australian-themed outfit at Donald Trump’s International Miss Universe Final.

Voting is now open! From 16 September until 26 of September 2013. The winning design will be announced live on 'Sunrise' on 30 September, 2013.

Click here to vote.

Which would you choose? Click to vote, and comment below!

UPDATED:

The winning dress is dress C, the blue number, designed by local Australian fashion designer Jason Chetcuti.

International Women's Day 2012

Today is International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated on March 8 all across the world.

What does International Women's Day mean to you?

According to the IWD site, here is a little history:

"IWD is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women in the past, present and future. It is a day when women are recognised for their achievements, regardless of divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political.

It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments, and more importantly, for looking ahead to the untapped potential and opportunities that await future generations of women.

In 1910, Clara Zetkin, the leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany tabled the idea of an International Women’s Day at the second International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen. The proposal received unanimous assent from over one hundred women representing seventeen countries.

The very first International Women’s day was held the following year on March 19th. Meetings and protests were held across Europe with the largest street demonstration attracting 30,000 women. The day sparked great public debate, and advocates drew attention to the absolute necessity of extending the right to vote to women to make parliament more democratic. In 1913, IWD was transferred to March 8th and has been held on this day ever since."

Watch the message for International Women's Day 2012:

How will you celebrate today?

For more, see: http://www.internationalwomensday.org.au/

Mia Freedman, Today Show, Cadel Evans, and 'Hero' = Mayhem

Did you see the interview with Mia Freedman on the Today Show this morning?

I did. And I nodded in agreement the whole time - while pausing for a few seconds to Tweet my sentiments about it all.

The gist of the segment - which you can view in full below - is that while Mia understands Cadel Evans's accomplishment (winning the Tour De France - the first time ever by an Australian) she doesn't understand the need to call him a 'hero'.

I agree. And this from someone who lives in a house where there is a shrine - no, a whole room - dedicated to Liverpool Football Club. My husband is a huge fan of the English Premier League club, and when I rang him to get his opinion on this debate, he said:

"I think that yes, Cadel should be called a hero. He acheived something in a comp that is highly regarded, something never acheived before by an Australian. It's a test of endurance. Sure, yes - he is a hero."

Was he angry about my opinion differing from him? Nope. Because he recognises it's just that - an opinion.

Am I pleased an Aussie finally won this coveted race? Yes! Does it fire me up and inspire me? Not even a smidge.

I asked myself, what if it were the Australian soccer/football side winning a World Cup match. Yes, that would excite me - I may even stay up for it! But would I call the team 'heroes'? Hell no.

The feedback on Mama Mia has been a mixed bag, but much of it has been nasty. Mia indicates she can't recall ever being so abused about a topic.

She says: "I think pursuing a life doing something you’re good at for the benefit of yourself is not heroic. It’s not a BAD thing, I’m not dissing Cadel (of course not!) but the idea that a sports person should be idolised because they can ride far or jump high or swim fast is, to me, a bit odd. I guess I’m just flagging the fact that if you do well in sport, the country and the media stop to worship you in a way that doesn’t happen to anyone else for doing anything else.

As Mia said this morning on the Today Show: "I just don't care... He's a man - who is paid a lot of money... To ride a bike."

"To call him a hero...?"

"Did he save anyone's life? People who are sports people do it for their own reasons."

Maybe that's why I am not stirred by this either.

You can read Mia's reaction to it all here: http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/cadel-evans-is-he-a-hero/

And watch the Today show clip from this morning here:

INTERVIEW: Scherri-Lee Biggs - Miss Universe Australia - talks Nude By Nature

Since Scherri-Lee Biggs was crowned Miss Universe Australia earlier this month, the 20-year-old model and communications student from Perth has secured a contract with hugely popular makeup line Nude By Nature.

Biggs also won more than $25,000 in prizes, and has earned the right to compete in the Miss Universe World finals to be held in Brazil on September 12.

Last year’s winner (and fellow Nude By Nature ambassador) Jesinta Campbell has said a record of more than 10,000 women registered for the contest. The comp's popularity is far from waning.

And the Nude By Nature line keeps expanding. Here, Scherri-Lee Biggs talks to Josie's Juice about the global comp, the popular makeup line, and her desert island makeup staple.

Miss Universe is judged on looks and substance and intelligence - though how do you feel about the ‘looks’ part?

I think when in amongst all the preparation the ‘looks’ part kind of falls to the wayside. Yes you’re hitting the gym when you can and eating well, but i tend to do that for energy and wellbeing. I do enjoy taking care of myself, beauty-wise. It’s something I enjoy, I’m very interested in great skin care products and I like painting my nails when I have a free minute. I think it’s always good the present yourself with pride.

What do you hope to achieve during your rein as Miss Universe Australia?

Right now, the focus is definitely on the international final. I feel it rather a large responsibility representing my country well and trusting that everyone back home will be proud of my efforts.

After Brazil, I’m keen to get stuck into my role at home. I hope to get out there and meet as many interesting people as I can, I want to be inspired, I want to be involved in my community and offer my assistance as influential role. I would like to speak to young girls and offer advice on confidence and happiness. I am currently aligned with Toybox Charity and would like to continue my work with them.

How do you feel about being involved with Nude By Nature? What appeals to you about the brand?

I love it! And I seriously mean it! After being introduced to Nude by Nature I haven’t looked back. The great thing with nude by nature is that you don’t need many products and you can create a beautiful flawless natural look with very little effort. Beyond the great makeup, it’s a fantastic company to be aligned with and I’m proud to represent. They use natural ingredients that I am honestly happy to promote to anyone.

What is your fail-safe, ten minute makeup routine?

Oooh, I like this question, because I usually only have 10 minutes, if that! Prime up your skin with Nude by Nature natural primer, as it will hold this 10 minute makeup all day and also help smooth it out. Keep foundation light and lightly conceal the t-zone and under the eye contour; bronze figure-three shapes down each side of the face, keeping it under the cheek bone. With the nude illuminator, highlight cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the brow and 'cupid's bow' for a really fresh appearance.

Use a light fresh pinky gold on the eye (I’m not very good at eyes, so I keep it extremely natural, haha), lashings of a good mascara. Finish with the Nude By Nature Finishing Veil. Grab your bag... and ruuuun!

One Nude By Nature product allowed on that imaginary desert island: what would it be?

Illuminator... buuut in my head I have this really great castaway themed shoot going on where I’m all dewy sweaty on a life raft, but somehow have managed to accumulate a closet of designer clothes for my time on the island!

For more on the brand, see: http://www.nudebynature.com.au/

World Ends - May 21. Apparently. How will you spend your 'last night'?

So, the world is coming to an end. Tomorrow. Apparently.

Here is a backgrounder:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1388972/Judgment-Day-Rapture-Parties-planned-evangelist-Harold-Camping-predicts-huge-earthquake.html

What will you be doing?

Britney Spears will be dancing (see clip, below).

Will you have regrets? What are they?

Mine? Well... more time with my family and friends, less stupid tiffs with the hubby, more chocolate.

You? Share!

The Tunnel - World Premiere - TONIGHT!

Are you watching The Tunnel tonight?

If not, you're seriously missing out.

If you're not at the Popcorn Taxi world premiere at Bondi Junction, nor watching the pay-TV premiere later tonight on Showtime at 10.30pm (I am IQing it in HD - cannot wait!), then make sure you get your hands on a copy of the DVD right here: The Tunnel

So, what's the story?

Here's the gist (taken from the film's site):

"In 2007, the New South Wales government suddenly scrapped a plan to utilise the water in the disused underground train tunnels beneath Sydney's St James Train Station.

In 2008, chasing rumours of a government coverup and urban legends surrounding the sudden backflip, investigative journalist Natasha Warner led a crew of four into the underground labyrinth.

They went down into the tunnels looking for a story – until the story found them.

This is the film of their harrowing ordeal. With unprecedented access to the recently declassified tapes they shot in the claustrophobic subway tunnels, as well as a series of candid interviews with the survivors, we come face to face with the terrifying truth.

This never before seen footage takes us deep inside the tunnels bringing the darkness to life and capturing the raw fear that threatens to tear the crew apart, leaving each one of them fighting for their lives."

Here's more of the back story:

"Under every big city around the world are networks of hidden and often unknown tunnels. Sydney, Australia's largest city is no exception. The most mysterious are the rail tunnels that lie beneath the very heart of city. Their centrepiece is a flooded tunnel known as Lake St James. The tunnels were meant to be part of a new rail line but construction was abandoned part way through. Two decades later they were briefly used as an air raid shelter and U.S. General Macarthur's headquarters during the Second World War. Then they were left deserted for decades and all but forgotten.

A couple of years ago, the New South Wales Government proposed a plan to use the water in Lake St James to help with water shortages in the city. After much fanfare the proposal mysteriously vanished… and so the story begins… Sound far-fetched? Google it."

Julian Harvey and Enzo Tedeschi from Distracted Media are the two filmmakers from Sydney behind the project (they've been working in film and TV for over a decade) and 'The 135K Project' is their brainchild.

Since they first dreamed up the idea, they've been joined by actors, an award winning director in Carlo Ledesma, Zapruder’s Other Films (Andrew Denton's innovative production company), and their online team, the fabulously talented Ahmed Salama and Valeria Petrenko from DLSHS, all of whom have have joined the project.

Described as a horror flick, The Tunnel is set in the disused railway tunnels and bunkers below the city of Sydney, and its release on DVD and as a free BitTorrent download embraces the same underground online community often shunned for peddling pirated movies - by getting them to fund and distribute The Tunnel.

For the trailer, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u47cTpo70EE

"There is a lot of evidence that suggests that people who download films and music illegally actually buy more than those who don't," Tedeschi has said.

"We figured if we allowed them to download it in the first place and made the DVD available to them, then they might decide to buy it."

The film was shot around St James station, the Garden Island navy base, and old bunkers at Signal Hill and Georges Head, and is centred on around reporter Natasha Warner, played by Bel Delia, who leads a TV crew of four into the city's underbelly which harbours a horrific secret.

You've got to admire the film-makers of this ambitious project; instead of begging a studio or producer for money, they decided to auction off each of the 135,000 frames they expected to shoot in the 90-minute film - for $1 each.

"The frame selling idea came out of a chat Jules and I were having about a 35mm frame of a Star Wars print that I was given," Tedeschi has said. "When the film is released, the frame buyers will each receive a digital version of the frames they own at film resolution that they will be able to print out and hang on their wall should they be so inclined."

The auction created enough cashflow for director Ledesma to start making the film, and built an instant online fanbase in the process.

Even Tedeschi has conceded of the unusual way to fund the film: "It didn't seem to add up to us to ask people for money in order to help us make the movie, then ask them for more to be able to see it when it was done."

After the initial funding, Denton's production company - as well as and Paramount Home Entertainment - has backed the project.

For more info, see: http://www.thetunnelmovie.net/

It's A Nice Day For A Royal Wedding, by Adam Cubito

GUEST BLOGGER: ADAM CUBITO

Adam Cubito, the National Online Content Editor for [my absolute fave radio hosts right now - they are on weekdays on NovaFM, 4-7pm] Fitzy & Wippa on NovaFM is in London right now to cover the royal wedding.

So, I asked him to whip up a blog post. In between designing this impressive baby www.novafm.com.au/royaladventure, shopping up a storm at TopMan and River Island, hanging with an Aussie-born Prince William look-a-like, and indulging in a McDonald's Cadbury Creme Egg McFlurry or two (what? Yum!), Adam gives his right-in-the-thick-of-it report on all things royal! Enjoy...

[Oh, he is also designer of my fab new Josie's Juice logo - campione: http://josiesjuice.blogspot.com/2011/03/josie.html]

It's A Nice Day For A Royal Wedding, by Adam Cubito

This post comes to you from a hotel room in London, England. I'm looking out of my window and can see nothing but ancient buildings for miles and enough British flags up and soaring, the sky is almost red and blue - you'd think there's a royal wedding going on or something.

When I was first told by work that I'd be heading to London - one of my favourite cities - I was elated. Almost instantly I began to think about the ways I could strategically pack my suitcase so that I'd have enough space to fit in a couple of hundred commemorative plates, mugs and tea towels. After I had planned that, it dawned on me, I'd be part of a radio team - with Fitzy & Wippa from Nova - in another country, getting up to mischief and technically it's all considered work. Amazing.

We landed in Heathrow after a bleary long flight from Sydney on Saturday morning and almost instantly hit the ground running. A quick shop on Oxford Circus with the boys saw me walk away £600 in debt - but boy did I walk away in some nice new shoes. We then were lucky enough to be given tickets to a real football match - Chelsea vs. West Ham over in Fulham. The crowd were, as expected, typically British, but what amazed me were the rows and rows of police and the pubs with signs that warned of violence. I was oblivious to it any danger but worse, I just couldn't get The Bill theme song out of my head.

The next day prep began for a series of fun segments we had planned for the show. I wont go into a massive amount of detail but it involved adult-size cakes, Union Jack g-strings, dressing a 6ft 7" man as a bunch of flowers, pretending to be couriers and security guards. I also had the pleasure of hanging out around London with the #1 Prince William impersonator - Simon Watkinson - who grew up in Adelaide and now makes an absolute mint by pretending to be a prince. Insane.

I've accompanied the boys while they interviewed the stunning Jennifer Hudson - who herself is soon to be married - and she spoke to me about the amount of Twitter followers I have. It was then that I had to sit there and think - wow, am I really on the other side of the world having a conversation with Jennifer Hudson about the amount of Twitter followers I have? I had to pinch myself. She promised she'd follow me, but I've yet to see her name pop up in my email - don't keep me waiting Jen.

We then moved on to have High Tea with PM Julia Gillard in her hotel in London - again one of those moments where I did a double-take while I watched our PM gnaw on a scone. Love her or hate her, the woman rocked a (semi-shapeless) power suit and was very down-to-earth.

I'm looking out my window again - it's amazing to see how many people are here and supporting the Royal Wedding. There's William and Kate displays in almost every shop window, enough bizarre commemorative merchandise every few meters it's almost laughable and - although cliched - the atmosphere really is electric. There's no other way to describe it. London is on show, there's smiles on faces, flags waving in the air and a whole bunch of nutters camping out around Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abbey to show their love.

Even if you're not a fan of the Royal family (and there are plenty of Londoners and Aussies alike who aren't) you can't deny that it's pretty amazing that the union of two people can instill so much pride and excitement in so many. Plus, really, the world can never have enough novelty tea towels.

It's been an amazing week and even as the big day comes and goes, it'll be pretty awesome to have felt like I was somehow a very small part of the whole thing. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to pour my pint into my Kate Loves Will mug - it was only £2 - bargain. Cheers.

Adam Cubito is National Online Content Editor for Fitzy & Wippa at Nova FM. You can check out all the vids and pics from the adventures Adam has described above at www.novafm.com.au/royaladventure