Madeline Cowe was supposed to be finishing her law degree this year.

Instead, the 23-year-old who was born and raised in Tully will pursue her dream of a modelling career after being crowned Miss World Australia in a gala pageant in Melbourne on Friday night.

The Cairns law student will head to Washington later this year to represent Australia at the Miss World Finals.

Madeline took to Instagram to celebrate and thank her supporters after the win: 

“I can’t wait to represent Australia in the international pageant in Washington this December,” she wrote.

“Thank you everyone for all your kind messages, I will get back to you all as soon as I can.

“I had such a great time this past week, every single one of the other contestants are so beautiful inside and out!

“I can’t wait to go to Thailand next week with the top 5 — I know the next 12 months are going to be the best time of my life and I am looking forward to continuing on with the Beauty With A Purpose program alongside Variety Australia.”

This year's Miss World Australia competition made history with the first Indigenous contestant making it to the national final.

Magnolia Maymuru, who represented the Northern Territory in Friday night's competition, has already landed a high-profile modelling gig as the face of Victorian shopping centre Chadstone.

“I want to be a role model so that beauty is seen as universal, no matter what colour, size or shape you are,” Ms Maymuru told reporters.

“Through modelling and this campaign with Chadstone, I hope I can challenge the way most of Australia views Indigenous life."