Horowhenua beauty's bid for the universe

ANDREW GORRIE/Dominion Post

HELPING OTHERS: Miss Universe New Zealand winner Samantha Powell hopes to increase awarenes about the importance of education in Vietnam and Cambodia.

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It is a long way from being Horowhenua royalty to winning over the universe, but that is the goal for the newest Kiwi beauty queen.

Samantha Powell, a 20-year-old bank worker from Paraparaumu, scooped the Miss Universe New Zealand crown in Auckland on Sunday.

The reigning Miss Horowhenua beat 11 other contestants in the week-long battle of beauty.

The competition - which stretched into the early hours of yesterday morning – gave Miss Powell a chance at world, if not universal, domination in Vietnam in June.

Challenges for the contestants included a round of golf, a trip to Waiheke Island and some gruelling interview questions, Miss Powell said.

"They were things like: if you were to choose a country to give humanitarian aid to, which one would it be? And how would you cope if you were competing at Miss Universe?"

She told judges she would like to visit schools in Cambodia and Vietnam and try to increase awareness about the importance of education.

An extra challenge for her was her height - 1.78 metres (5 feet, 10 inches).

"Because I was one of the tallest, I was usually first up for everything."

As for whether beauty pageants were demeaning to women, Miss Powell was clear. "Not at all.

"I feel it's great for young women.

"Beauty is on the inside and outside. It's good for your confidence."

Judge Jack Yan agreed, saying brains were becoming more of a feature in pageants and the women had to be all-rounders.

"Obviously, they're all very beautiful ... but I like to think we can spot a phoney."

Mr Yan – who described himself as the equivalent of American Idol's notorious judge Simon Cowell – was heckled after quizzing the women about globalisation and the concerns of young people.

In the end, Miss Powell had been chosen because she had "X-factor" qualities – including a "very good conscience", Mr Yan said.

Miss Wellington, Rebecca Connor, also finished in the top five.

After peaking in popularity in the 1980s, beauty pageants fell away for years before making a comeback in 2006, Mr Yan said.

- © Fairfax NZ News