AGED 21, former Canberra girl Lucinda Smedley has a lot on her plate.
Combining a medical degree at the University of Melbourne with naturopathy studies at the Australian College of Natural Medicine, she also models part-time, volunteers for environmental organisations including Friends of Merri Creek, Greenpeace and Conservation Volunteers, “cycles everywhere”, and is a finalist in this year’s Miss Earth Australia beauty pageant.
To top it off, Lucinda has teamed up with fellow Miss Earth contestant Claire Radbourne, to organise an eco-fashion show and fundraiser in Melbourne, “Fashion Means the World” on August 6.
Proceeds will go to the World Wildlife Fund and the Miss Earth Australia Foundation, a national beauty pageant designed to promote environmental issues.
Lucinda is one of 40 finalists chosen from thousands of entrants across Australia. The winner will be chosen at national finals in Sydney on September 27, and will progress to the Miss Earth titles in the Philippines in November.
A former student of Chapman Primary, Stromlo High and Narrabundah College, Lucinda grew up in Weston Creek with Cooleman Ridge beyond her backyard.
Since moving to Melbourne to study last year, what she most misses about Canberra is the beautiful bush environment – and her mum.