San Remo resident Cole Nocera will head off for the bright lights of Las Vegas on July 21 to compete in the Regency International Pageant (RIO).
Named Mrs Australia Regency International 2023, Nocera will compete along with other members of the Australian team for international honours.
“I am a youth homelessness case worker and a disability support worker here on the Central Coast, which is an absolutely blessing,” she said.
“It is such a fulfilling role for me and has helped me grow individually as well.
“I’m hugely involved in my community and volunteer a lot of time mentoring youth and women around life skills and self confidence.
“I love running charity events and fundraisers as well as volunteering with charities such as Starlight Children’s Foundation, Pink Ribbon Day and White Ribbon Gay for domestic violence and advocating for peri and post-natal depression and anxiety.
“This is something I’m very passionate about spreading awareness of as someone who suffered both.”
Nocera has been competing in pageantry since 2015.
“I have learned so much about myself and gained immense personal growth through public speaking and self-love,” she said.
She enjoys promoting positive body image and representing diverse culture and ethnicity.
“I took a break two years prior to giving birth to my daughter in July last year,” she said.
“I had suffered peri-natal depression where I had suicide idealisations, chronic stress and fatigue.
“It wasn’t until afterwards that the PNDA kicked in and I suffered a lot.
“I couldn’t figure out who I was now and felt (I had) a loss of identity.
“So I went back to what I knew was going to get me out of this funk – and that was competing in a pageant.”
Nocera returned to take part in the National Australia Miss Pageant (NAMP) to score her first win after a weekend of panel interviews and fashion shoots.
“Judging is strictly based on how well your personality comes through, grace in walking, how well you chose your clothing to fit and colour and engagement with the judges,” she said.
Having earned her place on the Australian team as Mrs Australia Regency International 2023, will take part in pageant week in Las Vegas from July 25, with crowning on July 29.
“Being a national title holder is amazing, because you (encourage) many others to take on the challenge to achieve those goals – to challenge society’s expectations around beauty, advocate for your groups and be the best version of yourself.”
Nocera is hoping to return to the Central Coast with the title of Mrs International Regency.
“There is a whole world out there that needs more inspiring, strong women to step up and be a voice, to keep changing the narrative around beauty norms,” she said.
“Being a mother does not mean we are weak, being a woman does not mean we cannot do – anything is achievable.
“Sometimes you have to fail a couple of times before you succeed.
“I have been so lucky to be supported and sponsored by some Indigenous businesses.
“Koori Designs sponsored my national costume and Which Way Designs sponsored scrunchies for me to give the international delegates from Australia.
“Which Way Designs’ purpose is to help our mob wear our beautiful culture on a daily basis.”
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Cole Nocera