Miss Australia, gangland girlfriend, counsellor and criminal: Felicia Djamirze's story

Jul 24, 2025

Felicia Djamirze, a three-time Miss Australia and former drug trafficker, shares her tumultuous life journey from the criminal underworld to becoming a counsellor and women's justice advocate. She recounts her traumatic experiences with domestic violence and a chaotic police raid that changed her life. Felicia reflects on her transformation from a troubled childhood through beauty pageants to her new mission of helping others escape the justice system. Her inspiring story emphasizes resilience, healing, and the power of redemption.

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ADVICE

Reflect to Break Negative Patterns

Reflect on reasons behind behavior to learn and avoid repeating negative patterns.
Avoid self-blame; see personal choices in context of upbringing and environment for growth.

INSIGHT

Why Men Join Biker Gangs

Many men who join outlaw motorcycle gangs come from broken homes and lack family, seeking belonging.
Feeling important drives them to sell their souls to the gang and turn violent, linked to poverty and social issues.

ANECDOTE

Desensitized to Danger

Felicia wasn't scared of her violent partner due to desensitization from rough upbringing.
Normal dangerous situations affected her less because of prior exposure in life.

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Felicia Djamirze grew up in the criminal underworld, then became a beauty queen. But her life outside the pageant circuit was mired in the world of drugs, bikie gangs and violence.(CW: graphic discussion of domestic violence and crime)

Felicia Djamirze is a counsellor, an advocate for women's justice, a three-time Miss Australia winner and a convicted drug trafficker.

Felicia grew up surrounded by drug abuse and crime in a rough part of Sydney. Her family was marked by addiction and connections to the criminal underworld.

As she got older, Felicia attracted a lot of attention for her looks, eventually finding the world of beauty pageants, which she thought was her way out.

But behind the scenes, Felicia's life was far from glamorous.

While living with a partner who was in a bikie gang, she survived severe domestic violence. Then, during her next relationship she was caught up in an horrifically violent encounter with the Queensland Police when they burst into her home to arrest her partner for dealing meth.

Felicia admitted her involvement and was convicted for drug trafficking. In the aftermath, she retrained as a counsellor and mental health advocate.

She now aims to use her experiences to help others find a way out of the justice system and re-enter, unashamedly, into the real world.

Further information

Content warning: this episode of Conversations contains descriptions of domestic violence.

Help and Support is always available.

If you are experiencing Domestic Violence 1800 Respect is available 24 hours a day on 1800 737 732.

For support with PTSD in Australia, Lifeline (13 11 14) and Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467) offer crisis support.

Accessory, written with Erin O'Dwyer, is published by Affirm Press.

This episode of Conversations was produced my Meggie Morris, executive producer is Nicola Harrison.

It explores crime, conviction history, police brutality, bikies, meth, substance abuse, epic origin stories, family dynamics, relationships, prison, outlaw motorcycle gangs, arms dealing, ice, Russian mafia, Hells Angels, Bandidos, Rebels, Comancheros, Finks, and Mongols.

Find out more about the Conversations Live National Tour on the ABC website.

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