Miss Universe New Zealand is the New Zealand national beauty pageant which feeds into 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]
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) and Delyse Nottle (1980).
Contents |
| Year | Name | Represented | Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Priyani Puketapu | Wellington | ||
| 2010 | Ria van Dyke | Auckland | ||
| 2009 | Katie Taylor | Auckland | ||
| 2008 | Samantha Powell | Paraparaumu | ||
| 2007 | Laural Barrett | Christchurch | ||
| 2006 | Elizabeth Gray | Auckland | ||
| 2003 | Sharee Adams | Wellington | ||
| 2001 | Kateao Nehua Jackson | Niue | ||
| 2000 | Tonia Peachey | |||
| 1999 | Kristy Wilson | |||
| 1998 | Rosemary Rassell | |||
| 1997 | Marina McCartney | |||
| 1996 | Sarah Brady | |||
| 1995 | Shelley Edwards | |||
| 1994 | Nicola Brighty | |||
| 1993 | Karly Kinnaird | |||
| 1992 | Lisa Maree de Montalk | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1989 | Shelley Soffe | |||
| 1988 | Lana Coc-Kroft | Television presenter and celebrity | ||
| 1987 | Ursula Kim Ryan | |||
| 1986 | Christine Atkinson | |||
| 1985 | Claire Glenister | |||
| 1984 | Tania Clague | |||
| 1983 | Lorraine Downes | Winner | Winner of Dancing with the Stars season 2 | |
| 1982 | Sandra Helen Dexter | |||
| 1981 | Donella Thomsen | Semi-finalist | ||
| 1980 | Delyse Nottle | Second runner-up | ||
| 1979 | Andrea Kake |
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.