WHEN Jacinta Lal tells people she’s half Indian, they don’t believe her.
The beautiful 21-year old looks strikingly European, with light brown hair and blue eyes.
“When I tell people I’m Indian they think I’m making it up, but once they see my dad they realise,” Lal laughs.
Lal’s mum is Kiwi, and her dad is a Fijian Indian raised in Suva. He came to New Zealand as an 18-year old.
Lal is a finalist in the first ever Miss IndiaNZ Central in Wellington, and entered mainly because she wanted to find out more about her Indian heritage.
It was only recently that she even found out that her last name Lal means “red”, thanks to an Indian friend.
“I guess [not knowing much about the culture] will be a disadvantage in the competition, but I’ll learn as I go,” Lal says. “It will turn out to be an advantage for me however, because I’ll learn about the culture.”
The health science student was keen to perform an Indian dance in the talent section, but as she has never done one before she doesn’t think she has enough time to learn.
“The competition’s too close, but I’m definitely going to start learning afterwards.”
Stage manager of Miss IndiaNZ Central, Yaleney Sivapalan, says the competition to crown New Zealand’s Miss India has always been held in Auckland.
This made it difficult for girl in other parts of the country to enter, so this year organiser Dharmesh Parikh has widened the scope.
The winner of the regional Wellington leg will get automatic acceptance into the New Zealand finals, held in Auckland in September.
Sivapalan says Miss IndiaNZ isn’t about stereotypically beautiful but ditzy girls.
“This gives opportunities for young girls to show their Indian culture, which comes from music, dance, and inner and outer beauty,” she says.
There will be four rounds in the competition. The opening round, a talent round, a Kiwi round which will see girls in high fashion ball gowns, and a question and answer section.
“Because we are Indians, we don’t have a swimwear section. It’s a cultural thing,” laughs Sivapalan.
Latisha Patel, 17, is another of the 12 contestants. She was born in New Zealand, but both her parents are from Gujarat in Western India.
“I was raised with Indian values,” Latisha says. This includes respecting elders, and a strong emphasis on community and family. Close friends are called “aunty” or “uncle”, and any achievements in a family are celebrated with a huge feast where all extended family are invited.
The architecture student’s sister Kamini, 16, is also a contestant in Miss IndiaNZ, but Latisha says there won’t be any rivalry.
“We’re supporting each other in the contest and experiencing it together,” she says. “If she won, I’d be really proud and happy for her.”
Sivapalan says Miss IndiaNZ Central will be a fun night for Indians and Kiwis, who will enjoy the contestant’s presentations, and other entertainment.
“It’s a family event. People may even send their kids to learn Bollywood dancing afterwards,” she laughs.
Miss IndiaNZ Central 2010, Wellington High School, 7.30-11pm, April 17. Visit http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2010/mar/wellington/miss-indianz-central for ticketing details.