Francesca Hung is the next Miss Universe Australia.

The 24-year-old University of Sydney graduate was crowned during a ceremony at The Sofitel hotel in Melbourne on Thursday. Since winning, Francesca has been speaking openly about the difficult road she traveled to get the title.

‘I used to see former Miss Universes like Jesinta Franklin, Rachel Finch and Jennifer Hawkins and see them as the typical Australian girl,’ she told News.com.Au.

Francesca Hung was crowned Miss Universe Australia 2018 during Thursday's ceremony

Francesca Hung, 24, will now represent Australia in the 67th Miss Universe pageant in the Philippines in November

‘I never thought that could be me.’

She continued: ‘I grew up in an Angle-Saxon area, and I felt like the odd one out because of my heritage. I was embarrassed and struggled to accept it.

‘I hope this is an opportunity to show people if you look for feel different, you are a true representation of the Australian culture. What set me apart was my cultural background, and a bit different for [the] Miss Universe competition.’

Who is Francesca Hung?

Francesca Hung is the newly crowned Miss Universe Australia. She’s 24-years-old and hails from Northern Sydney.

She was inspired by previous title-holders Jesinta Franklin, Jennifer Hawkins and Rachael Finch.

Hung graduated with a degree in arts and sociology from the University of Sydney and is currently earning a masters degree in publishing from the same school.

Francesca models full-time for Westfield and Slate Swimwear. Scoring these gigs wasn’t east for her, however.

Speaking with News.com.Au, Francesca said: ‘I always wanted to get into modelling and media, but I really struggled to break in to an agency.

‘Eventually someone [Scoop Management] snatched me up.’

Francesca was rejected from several agencies before she landed a contract. She said agencies are ‘diplomatic with how they reject’.

‘They say you’re just too short or not quite right,’ she added.

Francesca has big plans for her Miss Universe title.

‘This can be such an amazing platform for women,’ she said.

She plans to use it to raise awareness about mental health issues.

Francesca Hung parents

Francesca Hung’s father is Chinese and her mother is Irish-Australian

Miss Universe Australia 2018 finalists

Francesca Hung won Miss Universe 2018. She was one of seven finalists.

Tahlia Giumelli

Tahila Giumelli, described by The Leader as ‘the next Miranda Kerr’, made it to the final rounds of competition in the Miss Universe Sydney pageant. She’s dating South Sydney Rabbitohs player Tom Burgess.

She’s an ambassador for Crohn’s and Colitis Australia, which she was diagnosed with in 2013 according to The Morning Bulletin.

Tahila was second runner up in the 2018 competition.

Rosy Reilly

Rosy Reilly, an early childcare educator at a kindergarten who’s also studying for a bachelor’s degree in education, was a Miss Universe Australia finalist.

During the competition she supported the charity Toybox International, a childhood leukemia organization.

Speaking to GC Magazine about her support for the foundation, she said: ‘The charity supports family’s through these difficult times and supplies grants to families that allow them to be there by their child’s side over their child’s stay, they fund research and provide getaways and distractions for the families to try [to] make their journeys easier.’

Emily Tokic

Emily Tokic, a 20-year-old Canberra, Australia native who models and is studying for her Bachelor of Commerce with a Bachelor of Laws, was a Miss Universe Australia 2018 finalist. She once dreamed of being a ballerina, she told GC Magazine.

‘I couldn’t see myself doing anything else. However, upon completing year 10, I lost my love for it, and decided to focus on my studies — putting my dancing career aside, which was soon after replaced by my aspirations of a career in law,’ she said.

Tasha Ross

Tasha Ross, a former Miss Teen Australia and Miss World Australia finalist who now works as a model, personal trainer and business student, made it to the final rounds of the Miss Universe Australia 2018 competition.

She was celebrated by many for being open about her struggles with anxiety, depression and self-confidence issues.

Ruby Compton

Ruby Compton, who appeared in Dolly magazine and is just 20-years-old, was a Miss Universe Australia 2018 finalist. She’s from New South Wales, Australia and is studying a Bachelor of Physiotherapy Honors.

Jordy Simmonds

Jordy Simmonds, a 25-year-old with dreams of working with children one day, was a Miss Universe Australia 2018 finalist. She’s from Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, but grew up travelling around often because both her mother and father were in the army.