Aleesha Naxakis refuses to stay in one lane. As a PR consultant, she navigates six-month plans and corporate KPIs; as the founder of a children’s entertainment business, she brings magic and childlike wonder to the weekends; and as a National Finalist for Ms. Galaxy Australia, she is using the runway to advocate for youth mental health.
Self-described as the “hardest working hedonist,” Aleesha has built a life where intense logistical organization creates the ultimate freedom for spontaneity, joy, and profound community impact. In this interview, she discusses her fierce boundaries around sleep, how international volunteering in South Africa and Nepal shaped her empathetic leadership, and why true success is leaving a legacy of joy.
You launched a PR consulting firm in 2023 and a children’s entertainment business in 2024, all while preparing for a national pageant. How do you juggle the demands of being a dual business owner with the intense preparation required for Ms. Galaxy Australia without burning out?
I won’t lie… It is a LOT. But I truly believe that being even very busy is manageable when it’s fuelled by passion. Everything I do, I do because I love and am genuinely interested.
I prevent burnout by designing my life to allow for the most joy possible. I’m possibly the hardest working hedonist, or most hedonistic hardworker, you’ll meet. I work long days to create a life full of beauty, travel, and laughter. I have the PR brain that loves a six-month plan and a spreadsheet, but I have the heart of a children’s entertainer who wants to find the magic in every single possible moment. I work hard because I want to play hard.
Logistically, I’m incredibly organised and often have the next couple of weeks planned out to a T. This creates the mental space for me to stay present while ensuring I don’t drop the ball on any of my projects.
People often have a very traditional, outdated view of what a “beauty pageant” looks like. What made the Australia Galaxy Pageants system stand out to you, and how does its focus on community service align with your own professional values?
What really drew me to Australia Galaxy Pageants was its focus on being the best version of yourself, which is a value I hold very deeply on both a personal and professional level. In PR, we’re always looking at KPIs and growth, and Galaxy applies that same rigor to personal development and community impact. It’s not about a standard of beauty but rather a standard of leadership.
As a PR consultant, I help brands find their voice and their ‘why’. Galaxy does the same for women. It provides a megaphone for the causes we care about. My professional values are centred on authentic communication and service, so joining a system that rewards style with substance felt like a perfect alignment.
You have raised over $1,500 for the youth mental health organization batyr. Since mental health is such a core pillar of your campaign, what are the personal boundaries or daily habits you rely on to protect your own mental wellbeing when your schedule gets chaotic?
Second to nothing is sleep. I am a FIERCE advocate for quality sleep. Especially as a woman. We need much more sleep than is commonly believed. I defend my rest and sleep with my life. You can’t build an empire, a community platform, or a successful business, on an empty tank. I say yes to life but I say yes to rest first. Always.
Pilates, nature walks, quality food and intuitive eating, stretching and meditation are my favourite tools in my toolkit. They are the anchors that keep me grounded when the grind gets intense. However, the real secret is my willingness to dissolve a plan in a minute for a spontaneous moment of connection or a unique experience. If a friend needs to chat or there’s a rainbow in the sky, I will drop EVERYTHING. Being super organised actually gives me the space to be impulsive.
And finally, I seek out laughter as if it’s a vital nutrient because for me, it really is.
From wildlife conservation in South Africa to teaching English in Nepal, you have a deeply global perspective and are even learning your fifth language. How have those international experiences shaped the way you lead your businesses and approach your community work back home in Sydney?
Travelling the world and learning different languages has taught me that humanity is sacred. My international volunteering experiences have taught me that everyone is looking for the same things: connection, joy, and a sense of purpose.
This global heart is what drives my local work. In my businesses, I don’t just see clients or customers, I see people with stories. It has made me a more empathetic communicator and a more resilient entrepreneur. It reminds me that there is a massive world out there, which keeps my daily stressors in perspective. Life on Earth is an unlikely, beautiful journey and I lead with gratitude every single day.
The “Eco Fashion” component sounds like a lot of fun. You are tasked with taking secondhand items and upcycling them into a “Denim & Diamonds” runway outfit. As someone who is usually managing corporate PR campaigns, has this hands-on, creative project been a welcome outlet for you?
Big time! Getting my hands dirty whether it’s in the garden, through creative outlets like painting and colouring, or working on the Eco Fashion component of the pageant is the ultimate brain break for me.
Upcycling a secondhand find into a runway ready piece is a physical manifestation of my niche; finding beauty and humour in the unexpected. Plus, it challenges the idea that luxury has to be expensive. True luxury is creativity and sustainability.
Looking ahead to May, if you take home the national title and pack your bags for the United States, what is the number one message you want to share on the international stage about modern Australian female entrepreneurs?
My message is that you do not have to stay in one lane. You can be a strategic marketing consultant, a whimsical children’s entertainer, and a community advocate all at once.
I want to show the world that we are a generation that leads with empathy, values sustainability, and, above all, never loses our sense of childlike wonder. We are proving that the most successful grind is the one that leaves a legacy of joy.
