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.'''' YearRegionMiss New ZealandNotes 1926 Otago Thelma McMillan 1927 Otago Dale Austen colspan=4 1947 Otago Mary Wooton K. W. Kilpatrick directorship colspan=4 1949 Taranaki Mary Woodward
Win by region RegionTitlesYears Otago3 1926, 1927, 1947 Taranaki1 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.
TitleholdersOn 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 NotesMaria Siayngco directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe from 2024 2026 Canterbury Georgia Waddington TBA 2025 Auckland Abbigail "Abby" Sturgin Unplaced 2024 Auckland Kim-Victoria Velasquez Vincent Unplaced Otago Frances "Franki" Margaret Grant Russell colspan="2" Along with Yugen Group, Russell withdrew due to compliance issues with the pageant guidelines. colspan=6 Nigel Godfrey directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2013―2019 2019 Auckland Mary Diamond Patrina 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 Sarah Lesley McClung Unplaced Miss Photogenic 2014 Wellington Rachel Maree Millns Unplaced 2013 Auckland Holly Michelle Cassidy Unplaced Val Lott directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 2006―2012 2012 Rotorua Talia Bennett Unplaced Pageant winner Avianca Böhm lost the crown after failing to gain New Zealand citizenship.Miss Universe NZ stripped of crown Stuff.co.nz, 31 July 2012 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 colspan=6 Dennis Brown directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1992―2003 2003 Auckland Sharee Adams Unplaced colspan=6 2001 Auckland Kateao Nehua Jackson Unplaced 2000 Auckland Tonia Peachey Unplaced 1999 Otago Kristy Wilson Unplaced 1998 Bay of Plenty Rosemary Rassell Unplaced 1997 Auckland Marina Alofagia McCartney Unplaced 1996 Auckland Sarah Brady Unplaced 1995 Hawke's Bay Shelley Jeannine Edwards Unplaced 1994 Auckland Nicola Johanne Brighty Unplaced 1993 Otago Karly Donne Kinnaird Unplaced 1992 Waikato Lisa Maree de Montalk Top 10 colspan=6 John Wansbrough (TV New Zealand) directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1979―1991 1989 Wellington Shelley Soffe Unplaced 1988 Auckland Lana Marie Coc-Kroft Unplaced 1987 Auckland Ursula Kim Ryan Unplaced 1986 Auckland Christine "Chris" Atkinson Unplaced 1985 Auckland Claire Glenister Unplaced 1984 Auckland Tania Susan Clague Unplaced 1983 Auckland Lorraine Elizabeth Downes Miss Universe 1983 Miss Mount Maunganui 1983 — Winner of Dancing with the Stars season 2. 1982 Auckland Sandra Helen "Sandy" Dexter Unplaced 1981 Auckland Donella Elizabeth Clemmence Thomsen Top 12 1980 Bay of Plenty Diana 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 Manawatū–Whanganui Donna Anne Schultz Unplaced 1976 Canterbury Janey Kingscote Unplaced 1975 Auckland Barbara Ann Kirkley Unplaced colspan=6 1974 Wellington Dianne Sarah Winyard Unplaced 1973 Otago Pamela "Pam" King Unplaced 1972 Auckland Kristine Dayle Allan Unplaced 1971 Bay of Plenty Linda Jan Ritchie Unplaced 1970 Wellington Glenys Elizabeth Treweek Unplaced 1969 Auckland Carole Robinson Unplaced Miss Photogenic 1968 Taranaki Christine Mary Antunovic Unplaced 1967 Canterbury Pamela McLeod Unplaced 1966 Auckland Heather Gettings Unplaced 1965 Wellington Gay Lorraine Phelps Unplaced 1964 Southland Lyndal Ursula Cruickshank Unplaced 1963 Canterbury Regina Ellen Scandrett Unplaced 1962 Canterbury Lesley Margaret Nichols Top 15 1961 Auckland Leone Mary Main colspan=3 1960 Wellington Lorraine Mawa Jones Unplaced colspan=6 Auckland Star and NZ Truth Newspaper directorship — a franchise holder to Miss Universe between 1954―1957 1957 Auckland Arlenne Nesgitt colspan=3 colspan=6 1954 Auckland Moana Manley Unplaced
Win by region RegionTitlesYears Auckland34 1954, 1957, 1961, 1966, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2024, 2025 Wellington8 1960, 1965, 1970, 1974, 1989, 2008, 2011, 2014 Canterbury7 1962, 1963, 1967, 1976, 2007, 2015, 2026 Otago4 1973, 1993, 1999, 2024 Bay of Plenty3 1971, 1980, 1998 Hawke's Bay2 1995, 2017 Rotorua1 2012 Waikato 1992 Manawatū–Whanganui 1977 Taranaki 1968 Southland 1964
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 de Montalk, who was a semi-finalist in both pageants.
References
External links Miss Universe New Zealand official website