Whangamata beauty takes top prize

MARK TAYLOR/Waikato Times

BEACH BEAUTIES: Miss Whangamata runner-up Claire Bell, left, winner Jazmine Seales, centre, and Courtney McBriar, third.

MARK TAYLOR

HOT STUFF: Winner Jazmine Seales (right), who many thought was a shoo-in from the start.

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More than 1000 people crowded into Whangamata's Williamson Park yesterday to watch local girl Jazmine Seales take home the coveted Miss Whangamata 2009 sash.

The crowd of young and old braved on-again, off-again spatters of rain to find a place on the grass to watch the popular annual event.

Most thought Miss Seales was a shoo-in from the start, with many commenting on the gorgeous brunette from the moment she stepped on stage in her tiny bikini.

Aucklanders Ryan Sissons, 21, and Cam Bennetts, 24, were just two of the male onlookers who thought she would win the senior competition.

"What's in the water down here?" Mr Bennetts said, commenting on Miss Seales' stunning figure.

"I picked her from the start, as soon as she walked out," Mr Sissons said.

Miss Seales, who recently moved to Auckland, said she was "quite stoked" with the win.

It was not the first time the promotional model and bikini designer had entered Miss Whangamata – but it was her first win.

"I used to enter all the time when I was younger," she said.

"But I haven't done it for a few years now. The last time I came third."

She did not do a lot to prepare for the event, but knew her little black, shell-encrusted bikini was the one for the occasion.

"I wanted to wear it because I can't wear it anywhere else."

Miss Seales was one of eight entrants in the senior division of the competition.

Second place went to Tauranga's Claire Bell and third place to Hamilton's Courtney McBriar.

The winners were picked by five judges, including ironman Cameron Brown and three-time Miss Whangamata winner Sharma Slavich.

Whangamata Surf Life Saving's Richard Scelly was astounded by the number of people who turned up to watch the event.

"It was massive. Much bigger than last year," he said.

The number of entrants in all categories was also up from 153 last year, to 174 this year.

The extra-large crowd was thanks in part to the Coca Cola Beach Party, also being held at Williamson Park.

- © Fairfax NZ News