Miss Diamond Australia finalist Gabriella Hortin.
Camera IconMiss Diamond Australia finalist Gabriella Hortin. Credit: Supplied/Jon Hewson                                    www.communitypix.com.au d466794

Kewdale teen hopes her bright personality outshines the competition at 2017 Miss Diamond Australia pageant

Sophie MooreSouthern Gazette

The 13-year-old Kewdale resident carries the hopes of WA as the State’s only Miss Junior Diamond finalist.

Gabriella raised $1000 for children’s charity Act for Kids at her Disney quiz night.

Her fundraising efforts are part of the pageant’s judging criteria.

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Act for Kids helps children suffering child abuse and neglect.

“I’ve always grown up in a happy area and environment; some children don’t have that and I really wanted to help those children,” Gabriella said.

She was attracted to modelling but did not like the height and weight restrictions.

Miss Diamond Australia has no height, weight or age limits above six years. It began in 2013 to celebrate beauty in diversity and promote change in the industry.

Gabriella has tougher competition than most; her brother Andrew was crowned Mr Diamond 2016.

“I was very jealous last year,” she said.

“But this year I’m going to beat him.”

The youngest of nine said a big family could make life difficult.

“Organising things, just dealing with the craziness and the cost of everything.” she said.

Most of her siblings are engineers but Gabriella said she wanted to do something “modern”.

“I want to be in the spotlight, be a star,” she said.

The grand final will be held in Brisbane on April 8.