Our dreams and aspirations give us the necessary drive to work and achieve the things that we want to have or experience. This fuels our lives to make it goal driven and keeping a steady pace provides for a major impact in the world that we live in.
This is so true for Crystel Bandal – a lady whose dreams have always been in the forefront of pageants to make a significant change – and her focus, women empowerment.
For the past several years, Crystel has been on the road to self-development by joining competitions that will challenge her mettle, keep her fit and allow her to voice her desire to further uplift women’s issues to begin conversations that will lead to a positive change.
However, it seems that Crystel together with her mom, Lovely Bandal has found a way to take Crystel’s dream up a notch … beyond competitions and pageantry. She now takes on the role of Regal Production’s co-Producer for the upcoming Runway Supermodel Australia.
“Being a competitor can feel like you’re in a chase. To earn a title you have to embody the qualities the judges are looking for and for that to happen you have to be the best version of yourself while fitting into their criteria. It’s very different to being a producer. As a producer you set the standards, the expectations and create the activities and challenges that would help narrow down the competition to one winner,” Crystel enthuses as she talked to us about her new role.
The dream of putting up this competition came several years ago after creating a training school for young ladies who would like to enter the fashion industry as a model.
“Mum and I started this competition to provide more opportunities to our upcoming models in Australia. We’ve seen how unfairly many new models get treated as many people don’t see it as a career. So we wanted to create an organisation that embodied the values of education, making sure every new talent and competitor that walks through our door comes out well-equipped with a set of skills and knowledge that they can use to climb up the the proverbial “ladders” of the industry,” explains Crystel.
Through the school, they experienced the many possibilities of not just teaching young ladies how to move on the runway and handle a photo session, they also saw better ways to spread the importance of women empowerment.
“There are so many things that contestants can achieve through competitions like Runway Supermodel. First and foremost, they gain confidence when they learn to handle themselves on the runway. This is already a good example of gaining self-empowerment," Crystel relates. “However, joining a competition isn’t easy. It requires a lot of preparation and in doing-so they’re unknowingly creating healthy habits that stay with them beyond the competition. They can even gain social empowerment because competitions like this gives them a platform to use their voice and the opportunity to amplify messages they value and are passionate about,” she continues.
Runway Supermodel Australia features two competition groups – Teens and Adults and they will be competing in several segments – PRET-A’PORTER (ready to wear), HAUTE COUTURE (avant garde designs) and EVENING GLAM (long gown) where they will be given the chance to sashay the runway in their very own modelling style.
Badly hit by the pandemic, the pageant had to slow down in 2020 and had to put aside some of the activities for the safety of the candidates and organizing body. Now that restrictions are easing up, the production is once again raging to go.
“I’m of course excited for the final show, to see the progress that the girls have made over the past few months and to see them grace the runway. I’m also excited to see the work of the fashion designers, make-up artists and hair stylists come to life. They’re all Australian talents and I’m so eager for everyone to witness the beauty of their work,” Crystel closes.
Runway Supermodel Australia goes on stage at 6pm on May 15 at the Novotel West WQ (across the new Sydney Coliseum) 33 Railway Street, Rooty Hill NSW. The competition will also have a delayed broadcast online! So watch out for the details on this page soon!