The universe in her grasp
Priyani Puketapu - older and wiser.
She’s walked this catwalk before, as Miss Horowhenua in 2009, she was first runner-up to the Miss Universe NZ title. This year, as Miss Wellington, Puketapu says she feels more ready to take on the title.
“Doing Miss Universe at 18 was a bit daunting,” Puketapu says.
Puketapu grew up in Levin but is currently studying journalism at Massey.
“I’d like to become a New Zealand television presenter. I had been studying law but found it wasn’t for me.”
She says it was when she appeared in a tv documentary as Miss Horowhenua that she “took a shining” to the camera and switched her degree to journalism. But Puketapu’s been in front of an audience most of her life. She starting dancing at the age of three and-a-half, first ballet and modern dance, then hip-hop.
“Dance gives you confidence, posture and helps you project yourself forwards. It’s really helped me in preparing for pageants.”
Her surname Puketapu is certainly Maori. Her father is of Maori and Rarotongan descent, her mother European, so why an Indian first name?
“There’s no Indian blood in the family. My father was just watching tennis on the television and saw the name Priyani and liked it,” Puketapu says.
Puketapu will compete against 12 other young women for the title, including Ashley Bradley (Miss Hutt Valley) Jasmine Robertson (Miss Manawatu), and Danelle Kaukau, (Miss Horowhenua). The winner will represent New Zealand at the Miss Universe pageant in Brazil in August.
Miss Universe New Zealand Show, Amora Hotel, Wakefield Street, May 1.
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