Miss South Sudan Australia

Miss South Sudan Australia follows a group of young South Sudanese Australians as they gather in Melbourne for the red carpet event of their community – a pageant that showcases their beauty, youth, confidence and cultural heritage. The competitors are young South Sudanese Australian women, most of whom have come to Australia as refugees and who now live in cities and towns all over Australia. The winner is awarded a modelling contract that may open many doors for her.

The film shows the last weeks before the pageant through the eyes of the organisers and three of the competitors who have arrived from other parts of the country. The drama builds with the hurdles of organising a big event. Not everything is going according to plan – ticket sales are down and there is a struggle with finances. The competitors also have to overcome shyness and their own inhibitions as well as confront the judgements of their more traditional elders who frown upon women showing off their bodies.

Even on the big day there are organisational obstacles, and the final dress rehearsal is cancelled due to lack of time. A scuffle occurs in the lobby of the venue and the girls are told to hurry through their final numbers before the winners are announced. The winner is crowned and everyone celebrates at a large after party.

Curriculum relevance

This film will have particular relevance as part of a larger study of refugees as well as immigration to Australia (SOSE/HSIE – Civics and Citizenship middle to upper secondary – who are refugees and where do they come from?).

Its themes also touch on Gender Studies, as it investigates young women growing in confidence and belief in themselves and having to marry vastly different perspectives on women's roles (traditional ethnic gender roles versus modern Australian views of women and gender).

The documentary could also be used as a text of choice for exploring concepts of identity and belonging for English and English as a Second Language (ESL). This would fit in with the New South Wales HSC English Area of Study: Belonging. It is also a good text to use for exploring cultural, social and individual differences.