An 11-year-old girl from rural New South Wales has taken out one of the world’s most recognised children’s pageant titles, earning the crown of Little Miss Universe 2025 in the Philippines.
From Jindera to the World Stage
Nevaeh-Lea Benton, a bubbly primary school student from Jindera near Albury, travelled to Manila this month where she competed against 19 girls from nine countries. After a week-long event filled with photo shoots, national costume displays, resort wear, evening gown, talent and interview rounds, Nevaeh-Lea was named the international winner.
Her proud mum, Bonnie Smith, said her daughter’s poise was what impressed the judges most.
“Nevaeh-Lea’s public speaking has become amazing … the way she held herself in front of seven judges was remarkable for an 11-year-old,” Ms Smith said.
Nevaeh-Lea has been competing in pageants since she was six. Four of Ms Smith’s children are involved in pageantry, including two of her sons who are preparing for their very first competition.
The Pageant Experience
Hosted in Manila, the Little Miss Universe event brought together young contestants from across the globe. Nevaeh-Lea proudly represented Australia, even posing with toy kangaroos alongside her crown and sash after her win.
Her mother said she was relieved Australian competitions were not like the highly-publicised American pageants that often feature fake tans, false teeth, and hair extensions.
“In fact, you actually get marked down in Australia if you do those things,” she explained.
Concerns Around Child Pageants
While pageants can provide children with confidence and public speaking skills, experts warn parents to tread carefully. Clinical psychologist Dr Ben Buchanan said repeated comparisons in competitions could affect children’s long-term mental health.
“Comparison can be extremely harmful to mental health and can set pre-conditions for issues like body dysmorphic disorder,” Dr Buchanan said.
“Parents should encourage self-worth beyond physical appearance by reinforcing qualities such as kindness, creativity, and resilience.”
Pageantry Beyond Childhood
Pageantry has also proven to be a powerful platform for adults. Jessica Lane, crowned Miss Earth Australia 2024, used her title to promote environmental awareness and sustainable fashion. But she admitted she was glad she had not competed as a child.
“Truthfully, I’m not a fan of child pageants. I grew up playing sport and doing musical theatre — that’s how I built my confidence,” Ms Lane said.
A Balancing Act
Pageant organisers in Australia insist their events prioritise personality and presentation over physical appearance. Pageant coach Kaye Russell said the competitions were designed to be safe and supportive spaces.
“It’s not about ‘are you pretty?’ — it’s about whether you’re confident, well-presented, and able to express yourself,” Ms Russell said.
For Nevaeh-Lea, however, the focus right now is simply enjoying her hard-earned title. From a small-town hobby farm to the global stage, the young NSW student has shown that confidence, dedication, and a bright smile can take you a very long way.