Priyani Puketapu

Priyani Puketapu
Born27 December 1990 (1990-12-27) (age 33)
Wellington, New Zealand
Height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Beauty pageant titleholder
TitleMiss Horowhenua 2008
Miss Wellington 2010
Miss New Zealand 2011
Hair colorBrown

Priyani Puketapu (born 27 December 1990) is a New Zealand journalist, model and beauty pageant titleholder who was crowned Miss Universe New Zealand 2011, representing Wellington. There was subsequently controversy, with claims that some of the judges had been pressured to select a blonde.[1] She represented New Zealand at the Miss Universe 2011 pageant in Brazil.[2] Puketapu had previously competed for the Miss Universe New Zealand title in 2009 where she was placed first runner-up.[3][4]

Puketapu did not make it into the top 16 to quality for the finals of the Miss Universe 2011 competition.[5] Puketapu, of Te Āti Awa descent, is a Wellington-based journalism student.[6] She finished Horowhenua College in 2008.[7]

References

  1. ^ "Miss Universe NZ judges pushed to pick blondes (+photos)". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 5 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Miss Universe New Zealand winner announced". Stuff.co.nz. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
  3. ^ "Miss Universe NZ contestants in town". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  4. ^ "Miss Wellington 2010 Results". .wowwellington.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2011.
  5. ^ "Miss Universe New Zealand Priyani Puketapu Misses Out". stuff.co.nz. 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011. Miss Universe New Zealand Priyani Puketapu has failed to make the top 16 in this year's 2011 Miss Universe pageant.
  6. ^ "Lucire: Insider » Miss Wellington, Priyani Puketapu, is the new Miss Universe New Zealand". 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  7. ^ "Priyani Puketapu". facebook.com. 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011. Horowhenua College School year 2008
Awards and achievements
Preceded by Miss New Zealand
2011 		Succeeded by