Priyani Puketapu, the newly crowned Miss Universe New Zealand, will be the first Maori woman to grace the international stage in ten years at the upcoming Donald Trump-owned pageant to be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil….
How do you stand out amongst some of the most beautiful women in New Zealand or in fact the world? Priyani Puketapu, the newly crowned Miss Universe New Zealand has the right formula. She is no doubt stunning; her beauty heralds glamourous starlets. But Priyani is more than just her looks. She is confident, intelligent and humble. There’s nothing fake about this New Zealand beauty.
And there is one more interesting fact, Priyani will be the first Maori woman to grace the international stage in ten years.
Priyani is Maori, Rarotongan, Tahitian, Swedish, English and German to be exact. She talks about her heritage with pride and love. Her iwi are Te Atiawa, a tribe known for their peaceful protests during the land wars. The white albatross feather is their symbol and she is incorporating it into her national costume. She collaborated largely on the dress design.
Beauty pageants have had their fair share of criticism. Their intentions are outshone by scandals and girls like Miss Teen South Carolina 2007 (Google it).
Priyani stands firm that pageants are relevant, as she said, “It’s not just about beauty; of course you learn deportment, grooming, how to apply make-up, do your hair, how to present yourself, the right clothes to wear for the right event.
"But they teach you so much more; vital skills that will assist you for the rest of your life; interview skills, public speaking, networking. How to relate to anyone and on any level. So many skills that are vital for life, when you are stepping out into the big world and you’re unsure of things, to have confidence in these areas are great skills for young women.”
Of course, there are the lights and cameras of the Donald Trump-owned pageant. This year, the pageant is in Sao Paulo, Brazil. For a month, she will live amongst women from all over the world and be scrutinised by international press and the judges. So what is she looking forward to?
As Priyani said, “I’m looking forward to meeting the girls and making friends. And sharing the experience together. In Miss Universe New Zealand, we all had such a close bond and shared everything together. We consulted one another if things were a little bit tough. So I’m looking forward to the friends I’ll make in Brazil. And the culture! I can’t wait.”
While she will be missing her sister’s wedding, Priyani is ready to take on the world. She’ll have their support from far away and the help of the Miss Universe New Zealand organisers. And of course, the fans here. Priyani wants to let everyone know, “I assure you I will do my absolute best in Brazil to represent you with pride and honour. And it’s exciting to share this experience together – so stay tuned!”
By Iris Chan, 1 June 2011.
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