BROKEN Hill High School student Jezabella Ortega has won this year’s ABC Heywire competition with an impactful story about self acceptance and learning to love herself.
“Being named the 2025 Heywire winner is by far the greatest achievement I’ve had so far,” she said.
“The day the results were announced, I felt a wave of nervousness, but I knew deep down that it was a moment of personal significance.
“It means I finally have a platform to share my story, to speak up, and to let my voice be heard in a way that I hadn’t been able to before.”
The ABC Heywire Competition is a respected storytelling competition for young people aged between 16-22 who live in regional, rural and remote Australia.
Since its establishment in 1998, Heywire has shared the lived experience of more than 13,4000 young Aussies.
Winners get to work with ABC staff to professionally produce and share their story, and travel to Canberra for the inaugural Heywire Regional Youth Summit.
Ms Ortega also said that she is excited to have the opportunity to attend the Heywire Summit next year.
“I am really looking forward to the summit in February, as it presents a unique opportunity for me to connect with new people and expand my network,” she said.
“I’m excited about the chance to immerse myself in new experiences that will broaden my perspective and help me grow.”
“The combination of learning, sharing, and potentially driving change is something I truly can’t wait to be a part of.”
