And The Floor Is Yours Winner is … Nishtha Vashisth with Feminist Barbie!

This time last week we were exhorting you not to miss the Grand Final of The Floor is Yours 2024 public speaking competition, to be presented by Soroptimist International Western Australia, on Sunday afternoon, 26 May 2024, at Notre Dame University, Fremantle.

Our exhortation seems to have worked a treat as more than a hundred folk turned up on Sunday to witness the speak off between the final five – the winners from the five heats – who battled it out in the Grand Final for the prestige of winning such a competition, and the first prize of $1000.

And the winner was … Nishtha Vashisth, a University of Notre Dame law and arts student, and John Curtin College of the Arts alumni, who, we were not entirely surprised to learn, plans to become a barrister.

Credit Ali Biddiscombe

Nishtha’s topic was ‘Greta Gerwig’s Barbie movie has consolidated Barbie as a new-era feminist icon’. Very topical! Her speech title was Feminist Barbie.

Credit Ali Biddiscombe

Nishtha was adjudged to be the winner by a high-powered panel comprising the Mayor of Fremantle Hannah Fitzhardinge, Emeritus Professor Leanne Monterosso, A/Professor Dr Justine Leavy, and Soroptomist board member and lawyer Karess Dias.

Credit Ali Biddiscombe

We were very lucky yesterday to catch up with Nishtha Vashisth, along with Anne Allen from Soroptomists who coordinated the event, and our Jean Hudson who, unlike our Editor Michael Barker, had actually seen Barbie, the movie, to talk about Nishtha’s public speaking experience, what she gained from the Barbie experience, and, of course, Barbie.

By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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