By CASEY NEILL
A SPRINGVALE pageant fanatic finally got his own time to shine – and sashayed away with a crown and ribbon.
Hung Pham, 21, was recently crowned Mr Diamond Australia.
The pageant is new to Australia and celebrates “the beauty and diversity of individuality”.
“It doesn’t judge on height, experience or sizes so I think it’s a fair go for anyone that competes,” Hung said.
“I just wanted to tick it off my bucket list.
“I’ve watched Miss Universe since I was little and these days I watch every single pageant that you can ever name.”
Hung has assisted and volunteered at pageants but said being on stage was “an adrenaline rush”.
“There was your typical rounds – your resort wear or swimwear and your eveningwear as well,” he said.
“But the most important part of any pageant is your final question.”
Hung answered ‘what is your chosen charity and why?’ with a twist.
“I wanted to be different among all the other six contestants that we had for the male round,” he said.
“I chose a charity and a mission.
“The charity that I represented was the Cancer Council of Victoria.
“I’ve been with the charity for five years now doing lots of event work and fund-raising work. I didn’t raise a lot of money but I did spread a lot of awareness.”
His mission builds on his work as an ambassador for The Happiness Mission, established by My Kitchen Rules contestants Carly and Tresne to provide health and wellbeing programs for schools and businesses.
“The main thing that I want to be involved more in is to go out to primary schools and secondary schools to promote health and wellbeing and after leaving school, what they will experience in the real world,” he said.
“I really want to tell them that when they get out of high school that they have got the whole world open to them.
Hung Pham receives his sash and crown:
“They can do whatever they want to do, even if their goal is set up very high like me they can achieve it.
“It takes a lot of confidence, passion and determination to get where you want to be.”
His lofty goal?
“To hopefully one day work for the Miss Universe organisation in America. If not, then I would love to work for IMG models in New York,” he said.
Hung has established his own events company called Style Runway Australia.
“I like to interact with the public, I like customer service,” he said.
“I have a very happy and bubbly personality that sometimes I can’t keep down.”
He’s already stashing money aside so he can represent Australia at the world Mr Diamond contest next year, after hearing a whisper it could be taking place in the UK.
