THE image of Tony Abbott in his infamous budgie smugglers couldn't be further from the glamour and glitz of a Miss Universe contest.
Granted Malcolm Turnbull's debonair demeanour could be considered a closer fit, but even still, most would consider the similarities between Australian politics and the infamous beauty pageant stop there.
However, the lines between the two worlds are becoming increasingly blurred. The parallels extend well beyond the fact world leaders and Miss Universe hopefuls represent their respective nations, albeit in wildly varied styles of dress (save the aforementioned budgie smugglers). 
Let's start with the backstabbing. I'd wager - despite what many fluffy movies aim to suggest - that Australian politics is by far the cattier of the two.
Sure the stakes are higher but the knives are bigger and plunged deeper. Look no further than the three successful leadership spills in less than six years - events which have besmirched both main parties - and it's clear the manipulation tactics in the upper ranks of federal Parliament far outweigh diluting an opponent's fake tan solution.
But that is an obvious argument in hindsight and we can only hope the characteristic leadership spills of the modern era are becoming as increasingly outdated as the Miss Universe contest itself.
But what about world peace?
Now surely that well-worn phrase has risen high enough on the international political agenda to become more than a just a catchcry for perceived intelligence by a sash-wearing, perma-tanned beauty.
Without trivialising a serious world issue - headlined by the rising tide of terror attacks and radicalised youths - the chorus from world leaders, and closer to home our politicians, to attack the ISIS scourge runs a very real risk of having the same impact as   December's Paris climate talks: all and sundry agree on a shared view, sign a document and do little to act upon that consensus.
It's the usual story - lots of talk, considerably less action and it is a malaise that regularly attacks all levels of politicians in Australia, from local government right through to the top office.
Furthermore it is here at the very pinnacle of Australian politics that the Miss Universe parallels are the most striking.
Whether it's strutting your stuff in a bikini or kissing babies, it's a huge popularity contest mired by some highly superficial markers.
As we live in a voting democracy, the sheer basis of popularity determining a politician's fate is nothing new.
But let's go back to the 2010 leadership spill where Julia Gillard deposed Kevin Rudd.
We have party politics rather than the public vote to blame but was the first female PM tag just a little bit too shiny to resist - a public relations dream?
Was it not akin to a Miss Universe contestant who is better equipped to model a bikini than answer a question about the gender pay gap? Nevermind Gillard's trailblazing run was ultimately cut short because she lacked the skills to lead a ramshackle party, only to see Rudd end up back in the chair three years later and then crash and burn under public vote.
Then more recently, Tony Abbott, the man of the awkward silent nod and penchant for stripping off in public was - again outside of the remit of the public vote - ousted for the charismatic Malcolm Turnbull.
But it is good old-fashioned time (and hopefully that trusty public vote) that will determine whether Turnbull has the political nous to stick it out for the long haul and retain the Prime Minister tiara beyond this year's election.
Who knows, he just might turn out to be the Miss Columbia - oh sorry, I mean Miss Philippines - of the beauty pageant ranks.
Mercifully this time around it will be up to the public.
But I implore you - in the name of that elusive world peace - vote for the policies not the people.
Together, let's take the bikini round out of Australian politics. JESSICA.LEO@NEWS.COM.AUTWITTER.COM/THEREALJESSLEO