User:Pageantreporter/Jessica Kahawaty

Jessica Michelle Kahawaty (born on September 12, 1988 in Sydney, New South Wales) is a charity ambassador, model and beauty pageant titleholder of Lebanese background from Australia with a double bachelor in Law and Business Finance.

Jessica is an advocate for a variety of causes both at home and abroad. At home in Australia, her work concentrates on ameliorating the life of certain Indigenous communities in Central Australia. Abroad, Jessica's work heavily promotes education as a key tool for the future generation.

Personal Life
Jessica Kahawaty was born in Darlinghurst, Sydney to Lebanese parents from Beirut. She attended the international french school Lycée Condorcet in Sydney until the age of 8. She moved with her family to Lebanon where she attended Antonine Sisters School in Ghazir for 4 years before returning to Sydney for good. In Australia, Jessica attended Tangara School for girls until graduation then got admitted into the University of Technology to study a double bachelor in Laws and Business (Finance). She is currently in her final year. Jessica has held positions in National Australia Bank and Citigroup.

Miss World 2012
On the 18th of August 2012, while representing Australia, Jessica placed as 2nd runner up in Miss World 2012 out of 116 candidates, the largest number of countries the pageant has ever hosted. The pageant was held in Ordos, Mongolia where China PR won the coveted title. Jessica won the Miss World Australia 2012 title 14 days prior to competing in Ordos. Jessica was the only contestant to rank in every category at Miss World. She was a semi-finalist in sport and talent. Jessica was also Top 10 in Beach Beauty, Top Model and Beauty with a Purpose. Jessica placed 2nd in her Beauty with a Purpose project.

Miss World Australia 2012
Jessica is the second Lebanese Australian after Nicole Ghazal to win the Australian title out of 23 contestants from across 5 states. Jessica is famously known to have performed her talent piece on the piano in Miss World Australia with a broken hand. Jessica won the Beauty with a Purpose charitable category in Miss World Australia 2012.

Miss Lebanon 2010
Jessica competed in Miss Lebanon 2010 held at the LBC studios in Adma, Lebanon. Despite receiving the highest marks from 9 independant jury members, Jessica was only rewarded the position of 3rd runner up which has proven to be controversial given her recent achievements internationally. Jessica received the highest score in Swimwear in Miss Lebanon, ranking first with a perfect mark of 9.778, evening, ranking first again with a mark of 9.811 and question ranking second with a difference of 0.006 from first. Jessica was voted as the most likely to win contestant in the Miss Lebanon 2010 pageant with local and international supporters on her side, however due to political and religious interferences, Jessica finished 3rd runner up with Rahaf Abdallah taking the crown with scores lower than Jessica. Jessica previously represented Lebanon at the Miss International 2008 pageant held in Macau on November 8, 2008 where she placed as one of the Top 12 semi-finalists.

Miss International 2008
Jessica won her first pageant at the tender age of 17 years old in Sydney, Australia on May 2007. She was crowned Miss Lebanon Australia 2007 and was the first Lebanese Australian to subsequently win Miss Lebanon International 2008. The extravagant pageant, held in Batroun Village Club, Lebanon, on the 14th of August 2008 featured 31 contestants with a Lebanese origin from around the world. In November 2008, we saw this mediterranean beauty represent Lebanon in Miss International 2008 where she was given 6th place out of 75 global beauties.

Education
Jessica is currently completing her 6th and final year in a combined degree in Bachelor of Laws and Business with a major in Finance in Sydney.

Modelling
In the acting department Jessica has filmed various commercials for brands such as Lexus cars and Maybelline Cosmetics, featured in Australia, Asia and India; and is featured in major catwalks, magazines and photoshoots around the world.

Australia
Jessica aids in community service and organises her own charity events where 100% of the profit is given to charities around the world. Jessica won 2nd place in the 'Beauty with a Purpose' competition in Miss World due to her charitable project for the Lilla community in Australia where she raised funds to build a water tank for the community, as well as re-open the school.

International
Jessica is currently raising money for charity:water in Rwanda, a non-profit organisation that builds water pumps in Africa. Jessica has previously raised tens of thousands for charities such as Breast Cancer Foundation, Cancer Council, Sesobel, Auxilia and Millenium Foundation.

Jessica can be found on her facebook page or twitter.