Next stop, the universe

By KAY BLUNDELL - The Dominion Post

Last updated 05:00 24/04/2009

KENT BLECHYNDEN/Dominion Post

FASHIONABLY LATE: Miss Universe contestants, from left, Priyani Puketapu, Kirsty Pritchard, Ayva Hayden and Alisha Fox, walk through a mall in Levin.

Miss Universe contestants at Coastlands Mall

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Elderly shoppers were agog as 15 glamorous Miss Universe New Zealand contestants sashayed through Coastlands shopping mall ahead of this weekend's glitzy final in Levin.

Fans were a bit disgruntled by the time the girls, adorned in white satin sashes, swept through automatic doors into the brightly lit mall two hours late.

"I do not know how they are going to achieve world peace if they cannot even find Coastlands," said a man leaning wearily on a counter.

Organisers this year swapped Auckland's big-city bright lights for the provincial charm of heartland Levin for tomorrow's final.

Sipping coffee in the food hall, Ian Crosland looked stunned when the girls swept past.

"They are bloody wonderful. I wish I was a lot younger but I would get myself into trouble."

Asked why she had entered the pageant, Miss Putaruru, Kate Hockly, said it provided a challenge for young women. "We get to express ourselves in multifaceted ways."

Miss Paraparaumu, Amanda Gatfield, said it was "confident building", while at 26, Miss Horowhenua, Janet Pudney, said her age meant it was her last chance to promote herself by entering.

Miss Taupo, Catherine Mitchell, said: "I think everyone should be happy, comfortable in their own skin and share that happiness with other people, giving from a meaningful place."

The girls will be selling poppies for the RSA today and will attend an Anzac Day service tomorrow before kicking off the final by dancing to Abba's Waterloo.

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