Beauty queen gets set for first Miss Universe competition

Jewel Harris will contest the Miss Universe NZ title in August.

BAYLEY MOOR

Last updated 10:35, July 5 2018

Jewel Harris is set to represent Māori in her first attempt at the Miss Universe NZ title and is keen to break stereotypes.

Harris, who is from the Hokianga in the Far North but has spent most of her life in Auckland said she supports the move away from beauty pageants having bikini modelling sections.

"If people want to see girls in bikinis and heels there's a place called Showgirls," Harris said.

"Beauty comes from the inside."

Harris said 50 per cent of the final score is made up from public votes while the rest is made up of social media, entrepreneurship (through their charity event) and the final night where contestants walk in their gowns, perform a dance and answer questions from the judges.

"For my campaign I'm hosting a Matariki Charity Ball, showcasing talents of Aotearoa. I've got people from down south, Māori people, local businesses, as well as famous groups like the Modern Māori Quartet.

"The whole event is to change stereotypes of how maori are portrayed in society, and giving them a platform to showcase talent - we have talent, we are successful."

In her first pageant in 2017, Harris took out the title of Miss National New Zealand.

"I wanted to build my confidence, I'm usually quite a shy person.

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"We need more Maori people to represent our countries, I want to empower other young Māori who are shy like me to step out of their comfort zone."

Harris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Spatial design(interior and architectural design), and is working part time in the industry. She hopes to work fulltime as an interior designer upon the completion of Miss Universe.

New Zealand's most successful entrant at the Miss Universe event was in 1983 when Auckland woman Lorraine Downes won the title.

The Miss Universe New Zealand grand final will be held on August 4 at Auckland's Sky City.

*Matariki Charity Ball will be held July 21 in Auckland.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/northland/105234147/beauty-queen-gets-set-for-first-miss-universe-competition