My name is Caitlyn Cutler and in March 2020 Tasmanian Times posted a story about me on the site titled ‘Caitlyn Cutler Still Keen to Sparkle‘ about my pageant journey and my fundraising efforts so far.

After the Miss Diamond International pageant was postponed to 2021 due to COVID-19, I finally got the chance to compete and am proud to announce I won!

I was born and raised in Launceston, Tasmania, and just over two weeks ago I was crowned Miss Teen Diamond International 2021, as well as receiving the following side titles: Miss Interview Queen, Miss Congeniality, Miss Media Queen, and Miss Social Media Queen.

At age nineteen, I am currently studying a Bachelor of Mathematical Sciences with an additional English Major at the Australian National University in Canberra. I enjoy playing soccer and netball, piano, and cross stitching.

In January 2020, I did something that has changed my life forever – I registered to compete in Miss & Mr Diamond International 2021, and it is a decision I will be grateful for every day for the rest of my life.

Beauty pageants have gained such a negative reputation for being just about appearance, with all sorts of requirements the competitors must fulfil ranging from being a ‘natural born female’ to certain height and weight restrictions.

But Miss & Mr Diamond International is a pageant like no other. Directed by the incredible mother-daughter team Charlie and Morgan Mancini, it is a pageant that celebrates not only grace and confidence, but also inner beauty, personality, and character. It is open to every single person of any appearance. What matters to them is the kind of person you are on the inside.

All contestants are required to fundraise and raise awareness for a chosen charity in the lead up to the finals, and I supported WIRES Wildlife Rescue raising over $2,000. During my reign over the next twelve months, I will be continuing my charity work (see below) advocating for WIRES as well as headspace – two extremely worthy causes that are very close to my heart.

Not only did I get to have a dream come true when I was crowned a pageant queen, but this experience allowed me to make the most amazing friends that I will cherish for the rest of my life. And as if that is not enough, I have grown so much as a person, becoming stronger, more confident, and more empowered than ever before.

There was a quote sent to me by a fellow member of the Miss & Mr Diamond International 2021 Royal Court and it reads: ‘And when you become a diamond, you’ll see why life had to pressure you.’ To say I am inspired by this quote each and every day is an understatement.

I am a diamond, and I am proud of what I have been through to become one.

And finally, to anybody who ever thought themselves less than extraordinary: You are beautiful, inside and out. Never give up on your dreams, otherwise you may miss out on becoming the queen you were born to be.

Featured image above: Caitlyn in her fun fashion outfit, evening wear outfit and official sash and crown respectively.

You can support Caitlyn and her nominated charities WIRES and headspace at the upcoming Triva for Charity event in Launceston on 18 June, see details here.