# Miss Universe New Zealand

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).

## 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. 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 | |
| 2024 | Otago | Franki Russell | Did not compete | 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. |
| 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 ||||||
| 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 | Did not compete | 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 | 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 | 1 | 2017 |
| Māori | 1 | 2001 |
| Bay of Plenty | 1 | 1954 |