Miss Universe New Zealand is a national beauty pageant in New Zealand which selects the delegates to participate in the international Miss Universe competition. Qualification for Miss Universe New Zealand is based on regional pageants and/or personal interviews (necessary due to lack of regional pageant in some areas).[1]

Miss Universe New Zealand Organization
Formation1926; 98 years ago (1926)
TypeBeauty pageant
HeadquartersAuckland
Location
Membership
Miss Universe
Official language
English
National director
Maria Siayngco
Current titleholder
Kim-Victoria Vincent
Auckland

History

New Zealanders have contested 44 Miss Universe pageants since its inception in 1952 and is one of 33 countries to win the title. After no entrants were sent to Miss Universe in 2004 and 2005, a new national pageant, Miss Universe New Zealand, was created in 2006.

New Zealand's most successful entrant came in 1983 when Lorraine Downes won the Miss Universe title. The country's only other top five placing came when Delyse Nottle was second runner-up to Shawn Weatherly in 1980. New Zealand has also had three semi-finalist placings, in 1962, 1981 and 1992.

New Zealand is one of only 12 countries to win two or more Miss Photogenic awards, won by Carole Robinson (1969), Delyse Nottle (1980), and Samantha MacClung (2015).

The pageant will allow between the ages of 18 and 27 and are a New Zealand citizen.

Miss New Zealand 1926―1949

Below is Miss New Zealand who did not compete at Miss Universe, since the coronation was held before Miss Universe happened in 1952.''
Year Region Miss New Zealand Notes
1926 Otago Thelma McMillan
1927 Otago Dale Austen
No contest between 1927—1946
1947 Otago Mary Wooton K. W. Kilpatrick directorship
No contest in 1948
1949 Taranaki Mary Woodward

Win by region

Region Titles Years
Otago 3 1926, 1927, 1947
Taranaki 1 1949

Editions

Miss Universe New Zealand 2024

Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 marked the show's return after a hiatus since 2019. It was held in the Dorothy Winstone Centre, 16 Howe Street, Freemans Bay, Auckland, on Sunday, 29 September 2024.[2] The grand final was broadcast live via the official Facebook page. The preliminary interview was held on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Cordis Hotel, Auckland, New Zealand.

At the end of the event, Victoria Velasquez Vincent of Auckland was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 by Diamond Langi of Auckland.[4]

Judges

  • Duane Evans, Fashion Stylist and Event Producer
  • Farah Fouad, Supervising Accountant
  • Johanna May Manks , Professional Fashion Stylist
  • Mandy Allen , Relationship Manager CFS Finance
  • Toni Narang , Marketing Director of Caithy Organics

Results

Placements

Placement Contestant
Miss Universe New Zealand 2024
  • Victoria Velasquez Vincent
1st Runner-Up
  • Gazelle Garcia
2nd Runner-Up
  • Inge Carolus
Top 5
  • Caitlyn Dulcie Smythe
  • Deborah Lambie
Top 16
  • Anna Cabatay
  • Ciara Swords
  • Emily Da
  • Hillary Harris
  • May Ganon
  • Nicole Dionne
  • Olga Hudson
  • Sabrina Faruk
  • Shae Parsons
  • Sneha Sathish
  • Te Ana Birch

Awards

Awards Contestant
Best in Swimsuit
  • Victoria Velasquez Vincent
Miss Congeniality
  • Deborah Lambie
Miss Photogenic
  • Inge Carolus
People's Choice
  • Victoria Velasquez Vincent
Top Influencer
  • Gazelle Garcia

Titleholders

  •   : Declared as Winner
  •   : Ended as runner-up or top 5/6 qualification
  •   : Ended as one of the finalists or semifinalists
  •   : Ended as special awards winner
On occasion, when the winner does not qualify (due to age) for either contest, a runner-up is sent.
Year Region Miss New Zealand Placement at Miss Universe Special awards Notes
Maria Siayngco directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2024
2024 Auckland Victoria Vincent Unplaced
Otago Franki Russell[3] Did not compete Along with Yugen Group, Russell withdrew due to compliance issues with the pageant guidelines.
Did not compete between 2020―2023: In 2023 Miss Universe New Zealand was expected to return with Troy Barbagallo (PinkTank Events PTY Ltd.), a businessman who owned Miss Universe Australia and Miss Universe Singapore, but failed to hold a national competition, due to unknown reasons.
Nigel Godfrey directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2013―2019
2019 Auckland Diamond Langi Unplaced Previously, Langi made the semifinals at Miss Earth 2017 as Miss Earth Tonga.
2018 Auckland Estelle Curd Unplaced
2017 Hawke's Bay Harlem-Cruz Atarangi Ihaia Unplaced
2016 Auckland Tania Pauline Dawson Unplaced
2015 Canterbury Samantha McClung Unplaced
  • Miss Photogenic
2014 Wellington Rachel Maree Millns Unplaced
2013 Auckland Holly Cassidy Unplaced
Val Lott directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2006―2012
2012 Auckland Talia Bennett Unplaced Pageant winner Avianca Böhm lost the crown after failing to gain New Zealand citizenship.[4]
2011 Wellington Priyani Puketapu Unplaced
2010 Auckland Ria van Dyke Unplaced
2009 Auckland Katie Taylor Unplaced
2008 Wellington Samantha Powell Unplaced
2007 Canterbury Laural Barrett Unplaced
2006 Auckland Elizabeth Gray Unplaced
Did not compete between 2004—2005
Dennis Brown directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1992―2003
2003 Wellington Sharee Adams Unplaced
Did not compete in 2002
2001 Māori Kateao Nehua Jackson Unplaced
2000 Auckland Tonia Peachey Unplaced
1999 Auckland Kristy Wilson Unplaced
1998 Auckland Rosemary Rassell Unplaced
1997 Auckland Marina McCartney Unplaced ranked 15th
1996 Auckland Sarah Brady Unplaced
1995 Auckland Shelley Edwards Unplaced
1994 Auckland Nicola Brighty Unplaced
1993 Auckland Karly Kinnaird Unplaced
1992 Auckland Lisa Maree de Montalk Top 10
Did not compete between 1990—1991
John Wansbrough (TV New Zealand) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1979―1991
1989 Auckland Shelley Soffe Unplaced
1988 Auckland Lana Coc-Kroft Unplaced
1987 Auckland Ursula Kim Ryan Unplaced
1986 Auckland Christine Atkinson Unplaced
1985 Auckland Claire Glenister Unplaced
1984 Auckland Tania Clague Unplaced
1983 Auckland Lorraine Downes Miss Universe 1983 Miss Mount Maunganui 1983 — Winner of Dancing with the Stars season 2.
1982 Auckland Sandra Helen Dexter Unplaced
1981 Auckland Donella Thomsen Top 12
1980 Auckland Delyse Nottle 2nd Runner-up
  • Miss Photogenic
1979 Auckland Andrea Kake Unplaced
Joe Brown directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1960―1978
1978 Auckland Jane Simmonds Unplaced
1977 Auckland Donna Anne Schultze Unplaced
1976 Auckland Janey Kingscote Unplaced
1975 Auckland Barbara Ann Kirkley Unplaced
In 1974 the committee set rebranded Miss Universe New Zealand Organization[5]
1974 Auckland Dianne Deborah Winyard Unplaced
1973 Auckland Pamela King Unplaced
1972 Auckland Kristine Allen Unplaced
1971 Auckland Linda Jane Ritchie Unplaced
1970 Auckland Glenys Elizabeth Treweek Unplaced
1969 Auckland Carole Robinson Unplaced
  • Miss Photogenic
1968 Auckland Christine Mary Antunovic Unplaced
1967 Auckland Pamela McLeod Unplaced
1966 Auckland Heather Gettings Unplaced
1965 Auckland Gay Lorraine Phelps Unplaced
1964 Auckland Lyndal Ursula Cruickshank Unplaced
1963 Auckland Regina Ellen Scandrett Unplaced Elaine Miscall, Miss New Zealand 1963 did not compete at Miss Universe but Miss World; she became a runner-up at Miss World competition.
1962 Wellington Leslie Margaret Nichols Top 15 The original Miss New Zealand 1962 was Maureen Te Rangi Rere I Waho Kingi who did not present at Miss Universe 1962.
1961 Auckland Leone Mary Main Did not compete
1960 Auckland Lorraine Nawa Jones Unplaced
Did not compete between 1958—1959
Auckland Star and NZ Truth Newspaper directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1954―1957
1957 Auckland Arlenne Nesgitt Did not compete
Did not compete between 1955—1956
1954 Bay of Plenty Moana Manley Unplaced

Win by region

Region Titles Years
Auckland 48 1957, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2024
Wellington 5 1962, 2003, 2008, 2011, 2014
Canterbury 2 2007, 2015
Otago 1 2024
Hawke's Bay 2017
Māori 2001
Bay of Plenty 1954

Notes

Miss World

The delegates who represented New Zealand at Miss Universe 1992-1996 also represented New Zealand at Miss World the year before they competed at Miss Universe. The only one of these delegates to place at Miss World was Lisa Marie de Montaulk, who was a semi-finalist in both pageants.

References

  1. ^ "Miss Universe New Zealand". 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011. Many regions hold their own Pageant with the winner being sponsored into Miss Universe New Zealand. However as there has been an absence of regional pageants in many regions we are also interviewing those of you interested in entering Miss Universe New Zealand.
  2. ^ "Miss Universe New Zealand 2024 Grand Finals". Eventfinda. 29 September 2024. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Filipina-Kiwi actress Franki Russell appointed as Miss Universe New Zealand". GMA News. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 21 March 2024.
  4. ^ Miss Universe NZ stripped of crown Stuff.co.nz, 31 July 2012
  5. ^ "Winners of beauty contests, 1960–2015".