1950′s: NZ began its Miss World participation in 1956 with one delegate during that period.

1956: Jeannette de Montalk: The great aunt of future Miss NZ and Miss World semi finalist 1991 Lisa Marie de Montalk

(Pictured: Top row, Fourth from left)

1960′s: The sixties were the heyday of Miss New Zealand successes at Miss World, with three semifinalists, one finalist and a runnerup (NZ’s highest ever placement at Miss World along with 1997′s runnerup Lauralee Martinovich).

1960: Lorraine Nawa Jones (Did not compete)

1961: Leone Mary Main: The first crowned Miss NZ to compete placed a commendable 7th out of 37 entrants.

(Pictured: Fourth from left)

1962: Maureen Te Rangi Rere I Waho King: The first Maori Miss New Zealand hailed from Rotorua and became a guide and ambassador for her region for many years.

(Pictured: Miss NZ below)

(Pictured: Top row, 6th from left)

1963: Elaine Miscall: First runner up to Miss World. Remained NZ’s highest placement at Miss World for 44 years!

(Pictured: Top 7- 3rd from right)

(Pictured: Top 5-2nd from right)

1964: Lyndal Ursula Cruikshank: The first consecutive Miss NZ finalist, Lyndal placed 5th out of 42 entrants.

(Pictured: Top 7-2nd on right)

(Pictured: Top 5 First on left)

1965: Gay Phelps: The first and only hat-trick of Kiwi beauties to make the semis, Gay finished in the Top 16.

(Pictured: Right)

Pictured: Top 16, 6th from right)

1966: Heather Gettings.

1967: Pamela McLeod

(Pictured: Centre)

1968: Christine Antunovic

(Pictured: Middle row, 2nd from right)

1969: Carole Robinson: Re-entered the winners circle after her Miss Photogenic award at Miss Universe that year, she finished in the Top 16 to round off a spectacular decade for NZ.

(Pictured: Middle row, 3rd from right)

The 1970′s: As more countries participated in the pageant and more multi-ethnic winners emerged, NZ was unable to keep pace with its early success. This decade saw only two semi-finalists back to back in 1973 and 1974.

1970: Glenys Treweek

(Pictured: Top Row, 1st on left)

1971: Linda Jane Richie: Like Miss NZ 1962, Linda represented the geothermal region of Rotorua at the Miss NZ contest and became a household name throughout the country.

(Pictured: Miss New Zealand)

(Pictured: Top Row-1st on left)

1972: Kristine Allan

(Pictured: Top Row, 4th from right)

1973: Pamela King: Though unplaced in Miss Universe earlier that year, she redeemed herself as NZ’s first semi-finalist of the decade.

1974: Sue Nicholson: Became NZ’s second consecutive semi-finalist since their 1963-1964-1965 trifecta.

(Pictured: second on left)

1975: Janet Nugent

1976: Anne Clifford

1977: Michele Jean Hyde

1978: Lorian Dawn Tangney

(Pictured: Middle row, 3rd from right)

1979: Nicola Duckworth: A beautiful blonde who ended the decade the fifth Miss to miss out.

1980′s: While NZ had its best decade in the Miss Universe Pageant during the 80′s, the country’s representatives also distinguished themselves with a sixth place, fourth place, a semifinalist and two Queen of Oceania titles. The Miss New Zealand pageant was at its peak on the television, with its local contestants also ending up as kiwi celebrities such as Penelope Barr (TV weathergirl and Miss Waikato) and Hilary Timmins (Lotto girl and Miss Waikato).

1980: Vicky Lee Hemi: Fresh from the success of Miss Universe NZ 1980′s (Diana Delysse Nottle) 2nd runnerup position, Vicky Lee Hemi kept the country’s hopes high with a well deserved sixth place finish. A beautiful fresh faced Maori girl, Vicky Lee went on to live in the States with her family for many years before returning to NZ in 2009. She has begun writing a column for Mana Magazine.

(Pictured: 6th from left)

1981: Raewyn Marcroft

National Costume Competition

t

1982: Susan Jane Mainland

1983: Maria Sando

National Costume Competition

1984: Barbara McDowell: First part Samoan Miss New Zealand won the kiwi title as Miss Auckland. Termed ‘a Bianca Jagger look-alike’ on account of her exotic looks, she did not place at Miss World but was rewarded in 1987 as she was crowned Mrs World in the US.

National Costume Competition

(Pictured: Official headshot as Miss New Zealand 1984)

1985: Sheri Anastasia Le Fleming Burrow: Top 15: One of NZ’s most gorgeous exports, Miss Auckland Sheri won the hearts of the kiwi judges and also placed as a semifinalist in the Miss World pageant. Getting extensive coaching prior to leaving for London, she had a makeover and training in current events, speech and catwalk she even learnt how to “dewiggle her walk”. Wearing a greyish cream woollen triangle for her National costume, she scored highly in the preliminary swimsuit category in a sexy tiger striped one piece swimsuit and evening gown category with a one shouldered sleep turquoise sequinned dress. She was named the first Queen of Beauty of Oceania for New Zealand. In 2008 she was appointed as the Australasia CEO of Tiffany Lauren Skincare bringing 20 yeats of experience at senior marketing level.

Preliminary Swimsuit score of 29

Semifinal Evening Gown Competition

(Pictured: Sheri singing at the 1985 Telethon on TVNZ)

1986: Lynda McManus: 4th Overall: Westport beauty coached by Denyse Saunders (who also coached two other high placing Miss New Zealands in 1990 and 1997) who was picked as one of the Press Photographers favourites. She wore a very simple maritime inspired daywear for her National Costume, a sexy black swimsuit and a beautifully designed black velvet dress with shimmering sequin twist detail on the front. Lynda placed 4th overall and won the only back to back Queen of Beauty Oceania title for New Zealand.

Semifinal Swimsuit Competition

Announced as Queen of Beauty of Oceania (far right)

(Pictured with Press Photographers Favourites: Middle row, 2nd from left)

1987: Karyn Metcalf: Miss Counties/Manukau at the last televised Miss New Zealand Pageant in the 80′s, blonde haired and green eyed Karyn was unable to make a splash in the preliminary judging at Miss World that year. Some media controversy came after she slapped a police officer who had stopped her car to breath test her.

Parade of Nations

1988: Lisa Corban: A Maori beauty hailing from the Waikato narrowly pipped the strong Miss Auckland contestant to win the national pageant that year. She unfortunately did not make an impression at Miss World and did not advance. Later she appeared in a few modelling shows televised in NZ.

Preliminary Swimsuit score of 19

1989: Helen Rowney: Continued Miss Auckland’s streak at the national pageant, the sleek green eyed beauty was a novice to pageants, winning Miss East Auckland, Miss Auckland and then Miss NZ all in a row. She did not however add a Miss World finals berth to her run. This year the first Miss USSR candidate Anna Gorbunova grabbed world headlines prompting Helen to moan to the national media that “noone even knew who I was”.

Preliminary swimsuit score of 18

The 1990′s: This decade started with a hiss and a roar as Miss New Zealand 1990 put the country back into the Top 5 since 1986, it was followed by a Top 10 semifinalist in 1991. The next few years were unfortunately unsuccessful as the country struggled against record numbers of new countries competing with the dissolving of the old Soviet Union, Czechoslovakia and former Yugoslavia into smaller nations. However in 1997, NZ came close to snatching its first ever win with its first ever newly named Miss World NZ pageant winner.

1990: Adele Valerie Kenny: 4th runnerup:  17 year old Adele was a young teenage progeny of Denyse Saunders. The schoolgirl model won Miss Wellington, Miss New Zealand and then suprised all pundits with a creditable 5th place finish with a wardrobe of borrowed clothes. The media said it was like “the All Blacks winning the World Cup without their front row!”. Graceful, elegant, articulate and sweet, the young beauty then set her sights on winning the Miss Universe 2001 title in Las Vegas. With a whole wardrobe designed in red by Barbara Lee, she was thwarted by “ugly minded American Miss Universe bosses” who declared her ineligible to compete as she was not 18 years old by the 1st of January 1991 (even though she was by the time the pageant was on in May). Disappointed, she then entered the 1991 Diet Coke NZ Model Awards with a funky new short pixie cut and placed in the top finalists in that competition. She has been a consultant in Wellington since then.

Announcement of Top 10 in swimsuit

Semifinal Evening Gown competition

(Pictured: Top 10, 4th from left)

1991: Lisa Marie De Montalk: Top 10 Semifinalist: 21 year old blonde hair and green eyed Lisa, won the Miss NZ pageant as Miss Taupo/Tongariro and said it was a “huge power thing for me”. Translating this strong intense presence to the international stage was a breeze for the 5 foot 10 model as she became the first New Zealander to place in the semifinals of both Miss World 1991 and Miss Universe 1992. (She is still the last Miss Universe semifinalist to date). Lisa’s straight forward, clear, easy manner matched with her tanned, toned, lithe body, vibrant eyes and shock of platinum curls has made her a cover girl for NZ beauty queens over the years.

1992: Karly Kinnaird: see Miss Universe profile

1993: Nicola Brighty: as above

1994: Shelley Edwards: as above

1995: Sarah Brady: as above

1996: Kelly Mischewski: Although she did not place in the Miss NZ contest that year won by Marina McCartney, the pageant organisers thought Kelly would fare better at Miss World and unofficially sent her as the country’s delegate erupting in a spat between the two women.

1997: Lauralee Martinovich: 1st Runnerup to Miss World: Representing Canterbury and coached by Denyse Saunders, Lauralee (18) orginally from Te Aroha in the North Island, almost won NZ its first crown since 1956! The first runner up title was just reward for a vibrant, tall, dark haired beauty who also won the Most Spectacular National Dress award in a red gown. The public interest for her success was overshadowed by a public spat that developed between Saunders vz Martinovich’s parents. She remains NZ’s highest placing with Elaine Miscall from 1963.

(Pictured with 2nd Ru, Miss World and as 1st RU, Miss New Zealand on far right)

1998: Tanya Haward: Won the second Miss World NZ pageant and did not place at the world finals, featuring judge Jonah Lomu (All Black).

1999: Coralie Warburton: Curly Blonde, blue eyed beauty from Manukau.

The 2000′s: The new millenium did not bring the riches of the earlier decades for New Zealand as contestant numbers at Miss World soared into the early hundreds. A few swimsuit placings and one Top 16 semifinalist is all the country could muster, though it could also be said a more diverse ethnic range of Kiwi delegates were sent, including those of Croatian, Maori, Fillipina and South African roots.

2000: Katherine Allsopp-Smith: Won the pageant on her second attempt, she exuded a Hollywood 50′s glamour with her bobbed blonde hair and sleek green eyes.

(Pictured below)

2001: Amie Hewett: A runner up from the year before, Amie came back to win the title. Another blonde Auckland beauty she was a dancer, cheerleader and model.

2002: Rachel Huljich: Auckland schoolgirl Rachel broke the four year streak of blondes winning Miss NZ, with her Croatian heritage handing her a mane of beautiful brown hair and striking features. She became the subject of media interest after the Miss World contest came under fire by female rights activists in Africa forcing the pageant to shift from Nigeria to the Uk.

(Pictured below)

2003: Melanie Paul: The Miss New Zealand 2003 pageant was won by Aucklander Amber Peebles -who was sent to Miss International rather than Miss World, so Auckland model Melanie was selected to compete. Prior to the finals she was noticed by pageant followers as one to watch as she became compared to supermodel Gisele van Bundchen, which she confirmed by placing in the Top 10 of the first ever Beach Beauty competition (won by eventual Miss World winner Miss Ireland). Long, leggy, tanned and lithe, she swept into the Top 16 of the contest after a dazzlingly elegant evening gown presentation where she wore a lime green halter neck with fishtail that complemented her blonde highlighted curls. Although she did not advance into the Top 5, her performance was outstanding in that she footed it with the best in the changing style of pageant towards a more a Top Model feel. She remains the only Miss New Zealand to make the semifinals this decade.

(Pictured: Far Left)

2004: Amber Peebles: Sent to Miss World even though she had qualified a year earlier (this year Miss World New Zealand changed to Miss Earth, Mis International and Miss Tourism World franchises). This time she competed as a brunette. Amber became famous in New Zealand as a partner of Tv personality Brooke Howard-Smith. Amber presents a music TV show on c4.

(Pictured below)

Photgraphed by John F Cooper for Lucire

2005: Kay Anderson: Another NZ model selected for Miss World, North Harbour’s Kay was a blonde beauty with piercing blue eyes who originally hailed from South Africa. She suprised pundits with a placing in the Top 16 of the Beach Beauty competition and was on the winning Asia-Pacific sports team.

(Pictured below)

2006: The first time New Zealand has been unrepresented in its Miss World history!

2007: Stephanie Maria Dodds: Was selected to represent the country after winning the Miss Teen New Zealand contest. Of Phillipino and Kiwi descent, Maria was a pageant fave and in the mock rehearsal was randomly chosen to be Miss World.

(Pictured below)

2008: Kahurangi Waititi Taylor: The Miss World NZ pageant was finally resurrected by the Miss NZ Asia Pacific Trust organisation which was run along similar lines to Miss World. Kahurangi from Pukeoware was a very tall, unique looking candidate, raised in fluent Te Reo Maori. She placed in the Top 20 Beach Beauty competition (third time for NZ).

(Pictured below)

2009: Magdalena Elizabeth Schoeman: Representing Canterbury at the National Pageant, she won most of the awards including Beach Beauty. At the national pageant she wore a slinky backless black velvet gown. Magadalena prepared for most of the year, with coaching by Andhy Blake and attended the Fifa Cup with other Miss World delegates. During the lead up to the pageant, Magdalena received arguably the most media attention ever by a Miss NZ with fansites listing her at least within the top 20 of the 112 strong field. A former South African, she was the media darling as she could still speak Afrikaans and endeared herself to the locals as she went to visit her grandfather on TV. Unfortunately, her early promise and potential was eventually overlooked by judges as she did not place in any of the competitions (even though pageant watcher Pascal from Global Beauties unofficially placed her as a Top 3 bet alongside Bahamas and Barbados- saying she had the “IT Factor”).

(Pictured below: After winning Miss World NZ)

(Pictured: Miss World Parade of Nations)

2010: After a lengthy lead up of appearances, rehearsals, photoshoots and video shoots, the Miss World New Zealand contestants toured the North Island doing fashion and swimsuit shows. One of the early favourites, Cody Yerkovich was noted as being one of the few models from Northland to progress to the second stage of New Zealand’s Next Top Model Cycle 1 in 2009. Some of the other finalists included Miss Canterbury Emma McDonald and former Miss Hawaiian Tropic NZ finalist Ina Ivanova. The winner of the event was clear judges and crowd favourite Cody Yerkovich who was tall, lithe, dark haired exotic looking beauty (part Maori/Croatian) who wore a soft pink full length gown and wowed the audience in the swimsuit competition. Cody is a young contestant (18) but if she grows in confidence will do well at the Miss World competition. She has been likened to former Miss World Unnur Birner from Iceland.

Cody Yerkovich being crowned by outgoing Magdalena Schoeman

Swimsuit competition

Photo from the official Miss World NZ site