Our first pole queen crowned
An understated queen was crowned at the sell-out Miss Pole Queen New Zealand on Saturday night.
Eriko Minezaki, of Auckland, claimed the tiara and title for a crowd favourite performance.
The last to perform out of the nine contestants, Minezaki said she was so nervous she couldn’t watch the others perform. ‘‘I think I did okay,’’ she said. The nation’s first pole queen began dancing four and a half years ago, and now teaches the performing art.
‘‘I actually left my full-time job to do more training,’’ she said.
In preparation for the competition, Minezaki trained with a dance teacher to improve her footwork.
‘‘Once I’m up on the pole I can do all the tricks, but once I’m on the floor I can’t do anything,’’ she said.
As the winner of the inaugural event, she was awarded a tiara, trophy, professional photo shoot and her own pole.
Event organiser Trina Duffield said the Miss Pole Queen title couldn’t have gone to a ‘‘more genuine sweet person’’.
‘‘I don’t think she probably necessarily realises she’s as good as she is.’’
Minezaki didn’t respond when her name was called at the end of the night, not realising she had won.
‘‘She literally burst into tears, she was really emotional,’’ Duffield said.
Scoring 150 out of a total 165 points, it was the winner’s tricks on the pole that made the judges stand up and take notice.
‘‘And she managed to do it all in 8 inch heels,’’ she said.
It was a successful first run for Miss Pole Queen New Zealand.
‘‘There literally wasn’t a seat left in the place,’’ Duffield said.
The judges were impressed with the diversity of styles on display, from the really sensual to the fully themed, Duffield said.
‘‘All the girls loved the competition and said the vibe of the night was really good,’’ she said.
With the pole pageant drawing considerable interest from outside the pole community, Duffield said Miss Pole Queen would return in 2017.
“We’d definitely like to have the winner back, to come back and defend her title.’’
Nelson will be host to Pole Stars New Zealand, another pole competition organised by Duffield, on October 8.
The event will feature a variety of dancers performing under the four categories: trickster, artistry, showgirl and freestyle.