Meet the gorgeous Māori beauties who have graced the Miss Universe stage. They are of Polynesian background and are the indigenous peoples of New Zealand.
Moana Nui-a-Kiwa Manley from Auckland, won the title of Miss New Zealand 1954. Born to an English father and a Te Arawa Māori mother, she was a swimming athlete at the time and she soon represented New Zealand in the Miss Universe 1954 pageant held in Long Beach, California. She proudly wore her traditional Māori garments during the pageant. At the pageant, she was famously photographed to have fainted from extreme heat during a photo session with the rest of the contestants.
Andrea Kake, a mixed-race Māori beauty from Auckland, represented New Zealand in the Miss Universe 1979 pageant held in Perth, Australia. During the pageant, she wore a traditional Māori garment as her national costume.
Kateao Nehua-Jackson won the title of Miss Aotearoa 2000 ("Aotearoa" is the Māori-language name for New Zealand). Kateao is from the Ngati Wai and Ngati Kahungunu Māori tribes, and is the daughter of activist and community leader, Syd Jackson. Her name "Kateao" means "to inspire the world" in Māori language. She hails from Auckland and at the time she won the title, was pursuing a modeling career. Kateao practices traditional Māori dance and is fluent in Māori language, having worked as a Māori language and culture teacher. She soon became New Zealand’s representative in the Miss Universe 2001 pageant held in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. For her national costume, Kateao wore her mother's traditional Māori wedding dress.
Mahara Brigitta McKay won the title of Miss Schweiz 2000 (Miss Switzerland). Born and raised in Auckland, New Zealand, she comes from a multiracial background; her father is of Māori descent while her mother is Swiss. She and her family members then moved to Switzerland and resided in Aargau. Before winning the national title, Mahara worked as an interior designer. Mahara became Switzerland’s delegate in international pageants, Miss World 2000 held in London, United Kingdom, and Miss Universe 2001 held in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. After her reign, she pursued a career in music as a DJ and also became active in modelling, fashion design and hosting back in Switzerland.
Priyani Puketapu won the title of Miss Universe New Zealand 2011. She won the pageant on her second attempt (she finished as runner-up during the Miss Universe New Zealand 2009 pageant). From Wellington, she comes from a multicultural background; her father is of Te AtiAwa Māori, Rarotongan and Tahitian heritage while her mother is of Swedish, English and German descent. A journalism student before winning the national title, she soon represented New Zealand in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant held in São Paulo, Brazil. She wore a Māori-inspired national costume that features the albatross feather - the Māori's symbol for peace.
Harlem-Cruz Atarangi Ihaia won the title of Miss Universe New Zealand 2017. Hailing from Napier, she is of Ngāi Tahu Māori descent and obtained a traditional Māori tattoo called “tā moko” at the age of 15. A degree holder of Māori language, she teaches Māori language and culture to young children. She soon represented New Zealand in the Miss Universe 2017 pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada. For her national costume, Harlem-Cruz depicted Mahuika, the Māori goddess of fire.
國際華裔小姐競選 (1988-2006)
國際中華小姐競選
馬尼拉
奎松
1988
Manila (#12)
彭美玉 Marina Santos Benipayo
1989
Manila (#20)
杜安琪 Angela Beata Recto
1992
Manila (#16)
馬嘉寶
Top 12 Finalist
1993
Manila (#11)
辛達蓮 Sheela Mae Capili Santarin
1994
Manila (#12)
繆樂詩
Miss Friendship
2000
Manila (#13)
黃咪咪 Ivy Tan Vong
2001
Manila (#1)
蕭真妮 Genevieve Khu Siao
2002
Manila (#13)
楊如依 Diane Louise Shen Yu
2003
Manila (#17)
李景熙 Grace Kyung Hee Lee
Miss Vitality
2004
Manila (#21)
洪巧玲 Carlene Ang Aguilar
2nd Runner-up / Miss Radiant Smile
2005
Manila (#7)
施佳兒 Mary Grace Siy Sy
2006
Manila (#16)
黃安妮 Royce Ann Katrine Go Estella
2007
Manila (#17)
陳香利 Rachel Tan Cgarrasco
2008
Manila (#3)
吳佳穎 Alexis Sy Go
Top 11 Finalist
2009
Manila (#14)
許明明 Beatrix Victoria Sanchez Co
2010
Manila (#9)
李璇璇 Samantha Jade Ong Dy
2012
Manila (#6)
林啟莉 Kady Michelle Wilson
2013
Manila (#8)
李真真 Natasha Nicole Lee
2017
Manila (#7)
曾琳 Janne Lin Zeng
Top 10 Finalist
2018
Manila (#7)
吳雪蓮 Joy Tan Wu
Philippines pageant trivia
Maria Angela Beata Recto was the Philippines' delegate in the second edition of the Miss Chinese International pageant back in 1989. Nicknamed "Bea", she has been working as a model and has joined in modeling contests. Bea arrived late in the Miss Chinese International pageant, missing the press presentation event. She competed as Miss Manila and was referred to by the Chinese name 杜安琪 "Toh Anqi". After the pageant, Bea continued her modeling career back in the Philippines and also made appearances in films and advertisements.
In the Philippines, she is among the clique of models that were popular in the 1990's known as "Shet Girls" with Tweetie De Leon, Apples Aberin, Malou Gonzalez and Myrza Sison.
Osmel Sousa
1968-1981 - designer, coach, publicity director in Miss Venezuela
1982-2017 - president of the Miss Venezuela Organization
Cuban-born Osmel Sousa began his career in the Miss Venezuela pageant in 1968 as a graphic and fashion designer. At the time, the pageant was owned by Edwin Acosta-Rubio, a Cuban-Venezuelan businessman, who obtained ownership back in 1962.
By 1969, Edwin appointed his brother-in-law, Ignacio Font-Coll, as the director of the Miss Venezuela Organization and Osmel began working for the pageant's publicity while continuing his work in providing training and gowns for the pageant contestants and winners. Ignacio Font-Coll died in 1981 and Osmel was appointed the president of the Miss Venezuela Organization.
Under his leadership and mentoring, the Miss Venezuela Organization obtained 32 placements in the Miss Universe pageant, including a 23 consecutive year streak that occured from 1983 until 2003 and 5 victories, most notably the rare back-to-back victory in 2009. He served as the organization's president until his resignation in early 2018.
Because of his valuable contribution in the beauty pageant industry, the Venezuelan media has dubbed him "The Czar of Beauty".
Genevieve de Fontenay
1954-1981 - secretary, designer, coach of the Miss France Committee
1981-2010 - president of the Miss France Committee
In 1954, Genevieve Mulmann was working as a cosmetologist and beautician when she became the partner of Louis Poirot, the organizer of the Miss France pageant at the time.
Adopting the pseudonym "de Fontenay",
the couple became active in promoting the Miss France pageant. Genevieve became secretary of the Miss France Committee and took on multiples roles such as chauffeur, steward, coach and costume designer, while Louis was in charge of communications and presenting the election. Louis died in 1981 and Geneviève became president of the Miss France Committee.
During her presidency, the Miss France Committee obtained 5 placements in the Miss Universe pageant. She served as president until her resignation in 2010.
She is affectionately dubbed as "The Lady in the Hat" by the French media for always wearing a hat during her public appearances and her distinct fashion of wearing black and white color pallette.
Stella Marquez-Araneta
1964-present - chairperson of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc.
Stella Marquez won the title of Señorita Colombia 1959 and had the opportunity of representing Colombia in the Miss Universe and Miss International pageants in 1960. She is inaugural winner of the Miss International pageant and soon married Jorge Araneta, a Filipino businessman, in 1962.
In 1964, her father-in-law, Jesus Amado Araneta, who led the Araneta Group of Companies at the time, obtained the Philippine license for the Miss Universe pageant. Because of her experience in the pageant industry, Stella was appointed by her father-in-law to organize the national pageant, Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines), to choose the Philippine representative for the Miss Universe pageant.
Under her leadership, the Binibining Plipinas organization obtained 22 placements in the Miss Universe pageant, including a 10 consecutive year streak that occured from 2010 until 2019 and 4 victories. At the end of 2019, the Miss Universe organization did not renew its license with the Binibining Pilipinas organization.
She is affectionately called "Madame Stella" among pageant candidates and fans in the Philippines.
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