Not even a 12-hour flight or the prospect of heading back to school could dampen the spirits of the world's newest beauty queen as she returned home to Auckland today, crown in hand.

Remuera schoolgirl Aleisha Robertson was named Miss T.E.E.N 2012 in Texas last month, beating 19 other young hopefuls from around the world.

She also won the Best Evening Gown and Most Photogenic awards.

Robertson's victorious return home was delayed by a school history trip to Asia.

The sixteen-year-old was forced to miss the first half of the trip, to China, because of the competition.

"But I still got to go to Vietnam.  It was quite a contrast, coming from Texas," she said at Auckland International Airport, where she was greeted by her family and local pageant organisers.

She said her proud classmates were keen to check out her sash when she met up with them, but she made sure to keep an eye on it.

"A few of them tried it on, but I kept it nice and safe in my hotel room."

The Year 12 student said the competition was "more like a holiday", despite the hard work involved.

"We had a week of rehearsals which was quite hard; early mornings and late nights, all in heels.

"It was really fun. All the girls were amazing."

As the wannabe beauty queens were slowly whittled down to the finalists, Robertson said her nerves started to rise, but she can't actually remember hearing her name being called.

"It was scary.  They slowly number you off, and I think I was near the end. But I got there.

"But I can't really remember it.  I just remember I was with Russia, and we were both so shocked that we were the top two.  They called her as the first runner up and it took me a second to go 'oh that means I'm the winner'.  It was great."

Robertson, a Diocesan School for Girls student, won the Miss Teen New Zealand beauty pageant in April.

She competed in the New Zealand event last year, but failed to place.  However, she enjoyed it so much she wanted to try her luck again this year.

"I thought I'd give it another try. And it was worth it."

Robertson will return to the worldwide competition next year to hand over her crown to the next teenage pageant queen.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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