Experiencing Interruptions?

War of the Crowns: Fashion Vs Beauty

War of the Crowns offers an intimate look at Miss Diamond International, one of Australia's biggest beauty pageants, challenging the stereotypes of superficiality and cattiness. This documentary highlights the strength, resilience, and diverse perspectives of the contestants, showcasing their journeys of self-expression, personal growth, and cultural appreciation. While acknowledging the drama of competition, War of the Crowns redefines pageantry, celebrating empowerment, individuality, and the true spirit behind the crown.

  • Morgan Mancini
    Producer
  • Charlie Mancini
    Producer
  • Morgan Mancini
    Director
  • Charlie Mancini
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    Reality, Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 1 minute 40 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    March 31, 2025
  • Production Budget:
    50,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • War of the Crowns Screening Premier
    Brisbane
    Australia
    June 28, 2025
    War of the Crowns Premier
Director Biography - Morgan Mancini, Charlie Mancini

Charlie and Morgan are a creative directing duo whose work blends authenticity, emotion, and striking visual storytelling. With backgrounds in media production and live events, they specialize in capturing real-life stories with honesty and depth.

Known for their collaborative energy and people-first approach, Charlie and Morgan are passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices and exploring themes of identity, resilience, and transformation. Their work spans short-form documentaries, branded content, and live event coverage, always with a strong focus on narrative and human connection.

War of the Crowns is their most ambitious project to date, offering an unfiltered look into the world of competitive beauty pageants. Driven by a desire to challenge stereotypes and shed light on the stories behind the sparkle, they embedded themselves deep within the Miss Diamond International competition to capture the raw emotions and complexities of the pageant experience.

Charlie and Morgan’s filmmaking is grounded in empathy, trust, and a deep respect for their subjects—qualities that shine through in every frame of War of the Crowns. Their goal is simple: to tell real stories that move people.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

When we first stepped into the world of Miss Diamond International, we expected glamour, competition, and high-stakes drama. What we didn’t expect—and what moved us most—were the deeply personal stories behind every contestant. War of the Crowns was born from a desire to go beyond the surface and explore what really drives women to step on that stage: courage, identity, healing, and the fight to be seen.

This documentary isn’t about the perfect smile or the winning walk. It’s about real people with real lives—mothers, daughters, survivors, dreamers—each bringing their full selves to an arena that’s too often misunderstood. Through laughter, tears, and moments of doubt, they reveal the strength it takes to be vulnerable in the spotlight.

As filmmakers, we felt a deep responsibility to tell these stories with care, respect, and honesty. We didn’t want to narrate the experience—we wanted to witness it, to feel it unfold in real time. Our cameras were there for the chaos backstage, the quiet breakdowns, the unexpected friendships, and the raw truth that pageantry is so much more than a crown.

War of the Crowns is a love letter to every woman who’s ever dared to chase something bigger than herself. We hope it challenges perceptions, starts conversations, and most of all, reminds people that there’s real power in showing up exactly as you are.

– Charlie & Morgan