The Melbourne-based model said she entered the program after she was inspired by their inclusivity ethos and focus on empowering women of all backgrounds and body types.
“My aim was to advocate for people from my cultural background,” Ms Mukasa said.
“To put themselves out there, to chase their dreams.”
Ms Mukasa was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and moved to Australia with her family when she was a child.
She said modelling and pageantry allowed her to learn about herself and build her confidence.
“Modelling over the years has changed,” she said.
“It’s great to see people of colour being involved, it’s great to see all different shapes and sizes,” she said.
Australian Supermodel of the Year (ASOTY) has many sub-categories which include people from different cultures and body types. Ms Mukasa said the program also focused on getting to know each of the applicants and asked what she was passionate about.
“This program does align with my aim,” she said.
“I want people to be able to believe in not just their physical beauty but beauty within themselves.”
Ms Mukasa is now progressing through the mentoring stage of the program, which consists of 10 to 12 weeks of online classes with experts in the industry, including models, photographers and fashion stylists.
From there, she can progress to the finals, which normally take place in Bali.
“This is where you get the opportunity to (take part in) photoshoots, runways and to collaborate with other partnerships,” Ms Mukasa said.
When the competition is finalised, she wants to use her experience to advance her career, hoping to one day become an ambassador for clothing labels, and appear in magazines.
“I know that the modelling industry is definitely a competitive field,” she said.
“But also, I would love to collaborate with different brands, I would love to also work with different partnerships and become an ambassador for clothing lines.”
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