A night of glitz and glamour
Palmerston North’s Michelle Feldberg has been named Miss Manawatu.
Feldberg was chosen from a line-up of 26 women to wear the crown last competed for in 2014.
No stranger to the competition, the 24-year-old administrator, dance choreographer and teacher was second runner-up in the 2012 Miss Manawatu contest.
Feldberg said she had thoroughly enjoyed the experience of taking part four years ago, and felt she went into the competition with a lot more confidence this time.
‘‘It’s all still feeling a little bit unreal, but it’s wonderful.’’
Feldberg’s question as the judges quizzed the five finalists was about the best advice she had ever been given that had shaped her life.
‘‘It was to do everything with excellence, no matter what comes my way, to do everything with an excellent attitude.
‘‘My mother said no matter what the circumstances, you can choose the way you respond.’’
Feldberg said she was unlikely to use the Miss Manawatu title as a stepping stone to national competition. Her focus would be Manawatu, and being an ambassador for the area.
She expected to attend a variety of events and public fundraisers.
The title of Miss Teen Manawatu went to 15-year-old Palmerston North Girls’ High School student Hannah Sowman.
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Selected from a field of 16 contestants, her interests include performing arts, visual art, computer graphics and science.
‘‘I still feel shocked. I really can’t believe it.’’
Not quite the youngest competitor, but the youngest of a family of three, Sowman was quizzed about what she wanted to achieve during the next few years.
Her plans begin with sitting NCEA level one at the end of the year.
With a passion for all things creative, she has joined the Creative Youth Council, and is keen to provide channels for more young people to channel and display their artistic talents.
Her dream job would be to work with Pixar or Walt Disney animations.
‘‘For me, I really want to take the opportunity to get out and talk to others about being creative.’’
This year’s Miss Manawatu competition included a new category of Manawatu model of the year. That title was claimed by 19-year-old Saasha Miers, who is working for PTS Logistics and studying to become an accounting technician.
The winners were named at the end of a show at the Regent on Broadway on Saturday night. It was director Kate Balfour’s last time running the competition.