From working in Melbourne real estate, building a career and now stepping into the Miss World Preliminary stage, Tahlia Leonard is taking on a challenge that is about far more than wearing a crown.

“I never really imagined myself competing in a pageant.

If you had told me a year ago that I would be preparing to compete for the 74th Miss World, fundraising for children, working on a cause very close to home and putting myself out there publicly, I probably would have laughed.

I’m someone who has always had big dreams, but I have also always had a side of me that likes to stay comfortable and private.

This journey has forced me to do the opposite.

I’m Tahlia Leonard, a Melbourne local, and I’m currently a Victorian Preliminary Finalist competing for Miss World Australia 2027.

For me, this isn’t simply about entering a competition or hoping to win a title. It is about seeing what I am capable of when I actually give myself permission to try.

Growing up in Melbourne, I never had a traditional idea of where my life would take me.

I’ve always been ambitious and independent, and I’ve wanted to build a career for myself. One of the industries I found myself drawn to was real estate.

I worked in real estate across Melbourne, gaining experience in reception, administration, sales, campaigns, inspections, auctions, marketing and working directly with buyers and clients.

Real estate taught me a lot about people.

You meet people from all different backgrounds, you learn how to communicate, how to handle pressure and how important it is to be professional while still being yourself.

It also taught me that I enjoy being around people and that I want a career where I can continue to grow.

But outside of work, I have also been challenging myself in ways I never expected.

This year, I flew overseas by myself.

That might sound like a small thing to some people, but for me it represented something much bigger - independence.

There is something about arriving in another country alone and realising that you are responsible for yourself that changes the way you see things.

It made me realise that I don’t want fear to dictate what I do with my life.

That mindset has followed me into Miss World Australia.

Why I decided to enter Miss World Australia

Entering Miss World Australia was one of those decisions where I had to stop overthinking and simply say, “Why not me?”

I knew there would be women who were taller, more experienced, more comfortable in front of cameras and perhaps more familiar with the modelling and pageant world.

I’m at 160 centimetres tall, so I certainly don’t fit the stereotypical image that people might immediately associate with a traditional runway model.

But I realised that wasn’t a reason not to try.

If anything, it made me want to see how far I could go.

Being selected as a Victorian Preliminary Finalist was an incredible moment for me.

There were thousands of women interested in the opportunity, and suddenly I found myself taking something that had once seemed completely outside my world very seriously.

It has meant stepping outside my comfort zone in front of cameras, meeting new people, creating content, speaking about causes I care about and allowing people to see more of who I actually am.

And I think that’s one of the biggest things I’ve learned so far.

You don’t have to fit somebody else’s idea of what you should look like or be like to give something a go.

My Beauty With a Purpose journey

One of the most important parts of Miss World for me is Beauty With a Purpose.

I don’t want my journey to be solely about myself.

I want to use the opportunity to bring attention to issues that matter and hopefully make someone else feel less alone.

That is why I am developing Her Voice Within, a platform focused on women’s pelvic pain awareness and creating a space where women can feel heard, believed and less alone.

For many women, pain can become something they are simply expected to live with.

I want to help create conversations around women’s health, encourage women to speak about what they are experiencing and help break the silence surrounding conditions associated with pelvic pain such as Endometriosis.

The idea behind Her Voice Within is simple: women deserve to have a voice when it comes to their own bodies and their own experiences.

I hope it can eventually become something much bigger than a social media page - a community where women can share their experiences, educate one another and know that they aren’t alone.

Giving back through Variety Australia

Another major part of my Miss World journey is fundraising for Variety the Children’s Charity.

My personal fundraising goal is $5,000, and I am determined to use this opportunity to give something back to children and families in our community.

Variety supports children who are living with sickness, disadvantage or disability, helping provide opportunities and experiences that can make a genuine difference in their lives.

I have already started reaching out to Melbourne businesses and community members to build support around my fundraiser.

I’ve been incredibly grateful for the people who have donated prizes, contributed financially, offered their services or simply shared my fundraiser.

For me, the most exciting part isn’t simply watching a fundraising number increase.

It’s seeing people come together and spread Kindness.

A business donating something small, someone sharing a post, or someone simply donating can all become part of something bigger.

I’m learning to take chances

This year has taught me to say yes to things that scare me. Yes to travelling alone. Yes to new opportunities. Yes to putting myself in front of a camera. Yes to meeting new people. Yes to fundraising. Yes to talking about things that matter. And now, yes to Miss World Australia.

I don’t know exactly where this journey will take me.

There are still many stages ahead before the national final, and potentially an opportunity to represent Australia internationally in Tanzania 2027.

But I do know what I want to get out of it. I want to become a great role model to younger women. I want to grow professionally. I want to meet people who inspire me. I want to give back to my community.

And I want to prove to myself that I don’t have to wait until I’m older, more experienced or more “ready” to start doing the things I dream about.

Sometimes you just have to start.

"The older I get, the more I realise that success isn’t necessarily about having a title."

A title comes and goes.

What you do with the opportunity is what matters.

If I can use this platform to raise money for children through Variety, create conversations around women’s health through Her Voice Within, support Melbourne businesses, meet people in my community and encourage even one young woman to step outside her comfort zone, then the journey will already mean something to me.

Miss World has given me a reason to challenge myself.

But I want it to give something back too.

So, for now, I’m taking it one step at a time - balancing my career, fundraising, preparing for the competition, creating content and trying to enjoy the experience along the way.

I’m still the same Melbourne girl you’ll find at your local cafe. I’m just learning to dream a little bigger and take on new challenges.”

Follow Tahlia’s Miss World Australia journey:


Instagram: @tahliavassiliouu

Support Tahlia’s Variety Australia fundraiser - 
https://miss-world-australia-2026.raiselysite.com/tahlia-leonard

Follow Her Voice Within:
Instagram: @hervoicewithinn