WHEN Tristyn Martens-Shaw takes to the stage for the finale of the Miss World Australia pageant, she goes into the event with the kind of fighting spirit that defines the plucky underdog.
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Tristyn is in the Hunter Valley where the new titleholder will be crowned Sunday night, with the winner to represent Australia at the international Miss World contest.
"If I were to win this competition I would really focus on representing Australia to the best of my ability.
"It's been fantastic. It's been absolutely incredible," the 19-year-old, who has been competing in a range of categories since Thursday, said. "I am so ready for the next round."
Tristyn, a former The Riverina Anglican College student, is up against 43 national contestants who are all skilled in the art of pageantry.
While Tristyn was careful not to get her hopes up, she was confident about doing her best in the finals.
"If I were to win this competition I would really focus on representing Australia to the best of my ability," she said.
"I have no idea where I would be in the future because my life would change completely."
Her first international contest, Tristyn will have to do more than photo shoots and runways.
Billed as a test of "beauty with a purpose", over the four days the finalists have been judged on fitness, talent and intelligence.
With a big fund-raising aspect to the competition, Tristyn has raised funds for the Variety Children's Foundation.
"I think there is a stigma about girls being a little bit ditzy," Tristyn said.
"But so far all the girls I've come across have been really intellectual."
As well as being a talented singer, Tristyn has previously won the Wagga section of Miss Country Girl in 2011 as a 15-year-old.