The Miss Universe Australia competition is "more than meets the eye," insists one of its finalists. It just so happens the 31 women in this year's final meet the eye very well indeed.

In the lead-up to Friday night's national competition, women from around the country have enjoyed a week of pageantry in Melbourne.

Their days have been spent changing from swimwear into ball gowns and back again, practising their "snakes" (the name of the on-stage parade), and having their personalities assessed by Miss Universe judges.

"It's about how well you speak, how you present yourself, your poise, your personality," says Victorian finalist Jessica Parish.