Charlotte van der Lee was stunned when she was named Miss Whangamata 2014 on Monday.
After Lenny Rowe from Taupo was named third and Aucklander Tarsha Wedzinga was announced runner-up, Miss van der Lee looked at the other two finalists - Jess from Te Aroha and Sarah Speedy from Ngatea - to then be startled when she was declared the winner.
The three won beauty packs and they all said they looked forward to competing in the Miss Coromandel contest at Matarangi later this month, with entrants from Waihi Beach, Pauanui and Whiritoa and beyond.
Miss van der Lee said it was the first time she had entered the contest.
"Sarah Speedy and I dared each other to enter so we did - and I won."