Pageant News Bureau - Australia Pageants 2001

Kate McCracken

Warm competition in Australia

Miss Summertime 2001

Special to PNB
By Anthony Pancia

It could have been the uniform, or it could have been the smile. But either way, Sydney fitness instructor Kate McCracken walked away the winner from the Miss Summertime 2001 Pageant.

Ms. McCracken was given the tick of approval ahead of 12 other contestants. The title comes with cash and prizes worth $10,000 and a modeling contract with Maple Management.

"I really can't believe it,'' said a still elated Ms. McCracken. "All the girls were so beautiful.'' And few of the estimated 600 people watching the event at Caringbah Inn would have disagreed.

First, contestants had to stride down the catwalk dressed in elegant eveningwear, and answer questions on likes, dislikes and preferences. Then they had to go through it all again, but this time wearing only their bikinis.

"It was pretty nerve-racking, especially just waiting backstage for your name to be read out,'' Ms McCracken said. "But I've put a lot of work into this, so I am pretty happy.''

Photo courtesy of Maple Management

Walking above the water

By Jim Lagerstedt
Special to PNB

Melbourne brunette Michelle Bartoli, 21, representing Inflation Nightclub, won the Miss Hawaiian Tropic Australia 2001 title on Feb. 24, 2001. She beat out 21 other up-and-coming bikini models at the Islander Resort in Surfers Paradise.

It was a "pool party" no one could forget. On a sultry Saturday night, the models strutted their stuff on a specially constructed catwalk extending into the resort's pool. They all had their sights firmly set on the prestigious national title, and the right to represent Australia in the world finals in Las Vegas in April. Now it's Ms. Bartoli who is bound for Nevada.

Michelle Bartoli

The first runner-up was Agatha Walczuk, 23, representing The Adrenalin Sports Bar in Brisbane. The second runner-up was Rebecca Ranclaud, 19, representing Toronto Workers Club in Toronto. A special "Lady Luck" prize was awarded by Tom Tate, CEO of the Islander Resort, to Jessica Edser, 18, representing Mayfield Ex-services Club, Newcastle.

All the top finishers received an impressive array of prizes in addition to enhanced opportunities for modeling, thanks to the generosity of Hawaiian Tropic and its sponsors.

Special prizes were also awarded by the swimwear label Voodoo Dolls for a preliminary swimwear judging held at Shooters Saloon Bar earlier in the week. The winner of that event was 18-year-old Erin Normoyle, representing the Bay Hotel in Melbourne. The first runner-up was Ms. Ranclaud, and the second runner-up was Ms. Bartoli.

The Active Wear category winner was Ms. Walczuk. Summa Lee, 19, from the Seabreeze Hotel in Newcastle was selected Miss Photogenic through a vote by the pageant. Gold Coast-based model Erin Connor, 24, representing Glitz Designs, Robina, was named Miss Personality.

The morning after her big victory, still somewhat in shock, Ms. Bartoli was besieged by representatives of the media wanting to know all about her. They surprised her with a champagne breakfast -- by the pool.

Photo courtesy of Jim Lagerstedt