Hundreds have called for Miss Universe Australia to resign after it was revealed her parents went bankrupt as property developers and owed tens of millions of dollars.
A day after winning the crown in Melbourne on September 1, Moraya Wilson, 21, was discovered not only as the eldest daughter of bankrupt developers, but also as the director of 10 companies that owed thousands to the tax authorities.
Moraya has denied any knowledge of or involvement with the companies.
Her father, Anton Wilson, has been banned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) from running companies until 2027, with his multiple failed companies owing creditors more than $45 million.
Meanwhile, his ex-wife Melinda Wilson was disqualified from running companies for five years with debts of $39 million in March last year.
Moraya’s place as Australia’s top model has been called into question since the revelation of her family ties, with a change.org petition calling on her to return her crown.
Moraya appeared to defy the calls and posed for photos overnight with other Miss Universe contestants abroad ahead of El Salvador’s pageant in Mexico.
Hundreds have called for Miss Universe Australia, Moraya Wilson (pictured), to resign from her position after it emerged she is the daughter of bankrupt property developers Anton and Melinda Wilson.
Moraya (center) appeared to defy the calls and posed for photos with other Miss Universe contestants abroad ahead of El Salvador’s pageant in Mexico
A post on the petition’s page, which has been signed by more than 300 people, says the pageant “exists to champion a future forged by women with the courage to push the boundaries of what is possible.”
“I believe this statement is extremely important, especially for a league that focuses on women’s full potential to make positive change in the world,” the message reads.
The person behind the petition campaigned for signatories to strip Moraya Wilson of her crown as Miss Universe Australia.
“In light of recent reports that Moraya Wilson and her parents are involved in an alleged tax evasion of approximately $100 million, her actions do not align with Miss Universe’s message,” the petition said.
“This is why I think Moraya Wilson should resign from her position as Miss Universe Australia.”
Although Moraya said she was aware of the petition, she also said she still plans to participate in the international competition. news.com.au reported.
“I intend to fulfill my duties as Miss Universe Australia to the best of my ability, with the full support of The Miss Universe Australia management,” Moraya said.
The parents of Moraya, who received the crown in September, were found to owe $100 million to creditors of failed companies and the tax authorities.
The pageant winner said she has no intention of giving up her crown and plans to compete in El Savador for the international leg of the competition.
The beauty queen daughter of Mr and Mrs Wilson is herself a shareholder and director of ten companies involved in a failed hotel development in Melbourne’s south-east, all of which are subject to a ‘strike-off action’ by the Australian Financial Regulator.
One of the companies is liable for a debt of $13,204 to the Australian Taxation Office.
Companies are normally ‘suspended’ for failing to pay annual assessment fees or submit corporate documents.
However, Moraya representatives completely denied that she had any knowledge of the proposal to build a hotel in Noble Park, which ultimately never went ahead.
‘Moraya has absolutely nothing to do with this. She’s a child. She only heard about these companies when you messaged her,” a family friend said Nine newspapers.
Ny Breaking Australia is not suggesting Ms Wilson has done anything wrong.
Anton Wilson, who was declared bankrupt in 2017 with debts of $61 million, denied any role in the companies registered in his eldest daughter’s name.
Anton Wilson (pictured) was banned by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) from managing companies until 2027, with his multiple failed companies owing creditors more than $45 million – about half of which was owed to the Australian Taxation Office
His beauty queen daughter Moraya (pictured) is herself a shareholder and director of ten companies involved in a failed hotel development in Melbourne’s south-east, all of which are subject to a ‘strike-off action’ by the Australian financial regulator. Through a family friend, she denied any knowledge of these companies
“Not mine, hell no. I cannot control a company if I am bankrupt. “I have about 18 months left so I don’t have control over any companies,” he told Nine.
Mr Wilson suggested his daughter would be the best person to contact regarding the ten companies in her own name.
“Mate, fuck if I know. Give her (Moraya) a ring. You still have some homework to do.
‘Maybe she’ll tell you to fuck. That’s what these young kids are saying today,” Wilson told the newspaper.
Wilson has previously styled himself after fictional Wall Street character Gordon Gekko, whose mantra is “greed is good,” including his slicked-back hair and tailored suits.
He even named two of his companies, which later went bankrupt, after stocks that the Michael Douglas character manipulated as part of an insider scam in the hit 1987 film.
Moraya lives in a two-bedroom apartment in upscale Armadale in inner-city Melbourne with her former AFL rookie boyfriend Sam Alabakis (pictured)
In her Miss Universe biography, Moraya said she planned to start a fashion business as part of her studies in business marketing at RMIT University.
Ny Breaking Australia can reveal his last known address was a caravan park in Geelong, with management confirming he still receives mail there.
Moraya, a model and social media influencer who works as a sports coach at the private Caulfield Grammar School where she was once a student, beat 23 other finalists to represent Australia at the Miss Universe pageant to be held in El Salvador on November 18.
She said she planned to start a fashion business as part of her studies in business marketing at RMIT University.
Moraya, who lives with her former AFL newcomer Sam Alabakis in a two-bedroom apartment in upscale Armadale in inner-city Melbourne, competed internationally as a downhill ski racer.
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Moraya and her parents for comment.