Mosman local Natalie Mete was a finalist in Miss Galaxy 2023. She tells North Shore Living that pageants are no longer just beauty contests.
Natalie Mete is paving her way into the beauty world, but social media ‘likes’ don’t define her. Her mission is to transform runways into a life-changing platform, and become a voice for vulnerable and underprivileged women.
Natalie, 22, recently competed in the final of Miss Galaxy Australia. While she did not win, her ambition remains to help lift women’s self-esteem.
Since she was young, Natalie wanted to become a model, and during the COVID-19 lockdown, she discovered pageants.
She participated in Miss World Australia 2022, her first step into a world that would open opportunities for her to grow and give back to society.
“I saw many pageants until I found Miss Galaxy. I resonate with this contest because it’s all about being the best version of yourself and being true to yourself.”
That spirit of self-worth gives her motivation to give the runways a deeper meaning. For Natalie pageants are an opportunity to become the face and voice of those that need to be heard.
“It is a valuable experience for my personal growth and to build my confidence. I have used it as a platform for what I am passionate about and how I can make a difference.
While Natalie is currently a makeup artist and studying for a Bachelor of Commerce, her biggest aspiration is to start a female-only gym, offering self-defence courses.
“I also want to advocate for mental health support and start a program that will offer therapy services to low socio-economic areas of Sydney.”
Natalie says Miss Galaxy has helped her to become a role model that represents beauty without prejudices, accepting each body type as it is.
With social media pressure to fit stereotypes of beauty, her statements are bold and strong: “No filters, no editing”, she says. “Just being realistic about the way we look every day.”
Natalie says everyone has flaws, which should be embraced.
“Not everyone has a flat stomach or perfect skin. I want to create a more realistic place on social media where people can relate to each other. Where everyone is respected. Everyone has flaws, they’re our uniqueness and we should embrace that.”
She knows very well what it is to ‘feel different’ and ‘isolated’ due to appearance. During her teen years, she struggled with rejection issues due to her ethnicity.
“I am Italian, and at school, all the girls were blond, white, and they all looked the same. I was dark haired, a bit hairy and my ears stuck out. People would point that out and isolate me because of how I looked.”
To her, the key to healing focused on activities that she loved. “I had to find ways to feel that inclusion within myself. That’s when I started horse riding and music, as well as therapy to help me overcome those feelings of loneliness.”
And although her voice is soft and calm, Natalie’s words are firm and clear: “You have to be unapologetic.”
“You have to be true to yourself. If others think you are too confident, or too beautiful, or too much anything, don’t feel, ‘sorry if I’m taking up too much space’.
“That’s not how we should be feeling. We should be ourselves, and we should not be ashamed of it.”