Brains really count in this contest - Yeah right!

BY PENNY WARDLE

South African import to Marlborough Melissa Withers has no qualms about posing semi-clad and promoting beer in her bid to be named Miss Tui 2010.

The receptionist and health and safety employee at Nelson Forests Ltd, on the outskirts of Renwick, sat down with a Midori and lemonade to talk about why she's baring more than her soul to compete for the title. (Tui was not available at this Blenheim bar, forcing a top-shelf purchase to avoid supporting a competing brand.)

While the competition claims to judge "beauty, brains and personality", Miss Withers has her doubts considering the light and fluffy nature of the questions asked.

However, she hopes to boost her points for marketing with this article going to print and 800 supporters already signed up to her Tui-linked Facebook page.

An interest in part-time modelling was the 21-year-old aspiring geologist's main motivation in competing for the title. Although volcanos and New Zealand's faultlines triggered a desire to study earth sciences at Otago University, entering the competition was a way of getting her name and face known while living in out-of-the-way Marlborough.

"Modelling is not a lifetime goal, but I would love to do photo shoots on the beach," she says.

So is Miss Withers a Tui drinker? A Tui Blonde goes down well with her at rugby matches, she says, otherwise she prefers mixed drinks, with vodka cruisers a favourite since coming to New Zealand in January last year.

A rugby fan, she is now a keen supporter of the New Zealand teams, "except when the Sharks play the Crusaders, then my loyalty is split".

Asked whether promoting New Zealand's drinking culture gave her any concerns, Miss Withers said she enjoyed the Tui association of a having a social beer and sport. She finds the attitude to alcohol in South Africa and New Zealand quite similar, although to New Zealand's credit, she says, there is more emphasis on sensible drinking here with the likes of drink driving television campaigns.

While people generally drink sensibly before and during rugby matches, "after, they can get out of hand", she admits.

An advocate of sensible drinking, especially for girls, she says "you don't want to be the one falling down the stairs".

Miss Withers' sultry and sexy photographs are aimed at drawing the attention of the "fellas" invited to vote in the Miss Tui competition.

"When you want to be a model, you have to be be willing to put yourself out there. I try to be tasteful. I would never be photographed nude."

This is the second time Miss Withers has entered the promotion. Last year she was named in the top 10, based on website votes. Voting for Miss Tui finishes at the end of April and a winner will be announced in May.

- The Marlborough Express