Mission Austria: Who will be the country's next beauty star?

Mission Austria: Who will be the country's next beauty star?

Vienna's Auhof Center became the venue for an exciting event on November 9, 2025, when the "Mission Austria Casting" event welcomed over 1,000 applicants for the titles "Miss" and "Mister Austria 2026". The participants included 42 talented people who took on the challenge of public casting. Fans, families and numerous media representatives gathered in front of the stage to support their favorites and experience the atmosphere of the competition.

The participants had the opportunity to receive professional coaching and catwalk training from none other than “Mister Austria” Christopher Dengg. In the first round, the talents presented themselves in casual jeans and T-shirts, before the top 20 appeared in an elegant business casual style in the second round. The jury was made up of well-known personalities, including Kerstin Rigger, Wolfgang Reichl, Gerda Rogers and Jörg Rigger.

The jury is looking for the star

Kerstin Rigger, the organizer, explained that her goal is to find a “bright star” who can represent both nationally and internationally. The applicants were challenged, which was evident from the high level of the presentations. At the end of the casting, 10 women and 6 men convinced the jury and will be allowed to move into the boot camp in the Mühlviertel in January 2026. The grand finale will take place on January 12, 2026 in Vienna and is eagerly awaited.

Beauty pageants have a special place in history. The first competitions of this kind date back to the 19th century, when, for example, the first European beauty contest took place on September 21, 1888 in Spa, Belgium, where 350 applicants competed for the title. These competitions shaped the development of titles such as “Miss” and “Mister,” which have since become a sign of respect and social recognition. “Miss” is often used for unmarried women, while “mister” refers to men, and is derived from the term “master,” which became popular in the 16th century. The term “Mrs.”, derived from “Mistress,” stands for married women and has a similar tradition.

A look into the future

The upcoming election for “Miss” and “Mister Austria 2026” will also take a look at the dynamic development of beauty pageants, which continue to reinvent themselves over the years. The popularity of these competitions remains high, and international events such as Miss World and Miss Universe set standards in the industry. In Austria, the titles of “Miss Austria” and “Mister Austria” are highly respected and offer the winners a platform to gain a foothold in the industry and strive for representation at an international level.

The coming months promise to be exciting as the best talent embark on this exciting chapter in their careers. The jury is not only looking for external beauty, but also for charisma and personality, which are crucial for success on the international stage.