In 2022, Marites Novis, took over the reins as Australian director of Mrs Universe Australia – a pageant on a ‘quest to discover the world’s most outstanding married woman who wants to leave a mark on the world’.

Mrs Novis is a Sydney-based real estate and fashion identity who intends to revolutionise and grow the Mrs Universe pageant to never before seen heights as she takes over as director.

“The Mrs Universe pageant is the perfect combination of fashion, modelling and pageantry – it’s time for Australia to take the world stage!” said Ms Novis, “I intend for Mrs Universe to set a new standard for pageantry in Australia.”  She added that, “The pageant aims to build the self-confidence of entrants whose goal is to become global ambassadors and inspire change in the world.”

Mrs Novis, founder and CEO of Qfirst Property Investment Group, capitalised on her love of the fashion industry by establishing MFN Productions in 2018. This specialist production company is responsible for producing and sponsoring some of Australia’s most notable fashion shows and events. These include two spectacular fashion showcases featuring the late internationally renowned, avant-garde fashion designer to the stars, Rocky Gathercole.

“I wanted to give an international platform to hard-working and talented Filipino artists who deserve to be acknowledged and celebrated internationally,” said Mrs Novis.

In December last year, Mrs Novis acquired the local distribution rights of well-established Filipino ladies’ designer fashion labels, Plains & Prints and Kamiseta. She also launched MNOVIS, a new fashion and homewares emporium at Westpoint Shopping Centre in Blacktown, where she will stock her own eponymous label.

“This has allowed me to help keep jobs for fellow Filipinos and create more jobs here in Australia,” she said.

Mrs Novis migrated to Australia from the Philippines in 2007. She welcomes the challenge of her new appointment after conquering the competitive, male-dominated real estate industry as a female who is also culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD). She said she is “drawn to the ethos of the Mrs Universe pageant system – to empower, engage and inspire women of all cultures and backgrounds.”

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