Beautiful competing online

2014 winner Jane Brock

After about 60 years, the Mr and Miss Mount Maunganui competition is changing its format from a stage show to an online competition.

Run annually by ZM radio since the early 2000s, the competition will this year be judged online, with 50 per cent of the marks coming from public voting and the other 50 per cent from judges.

Those wanting to enter would not have to don bikinis or speedos this year and would instead head to the pop-up Mr and Miss Mount station opposite Mount Drury to have their picture taken, which would be loaded to zmonline.com on January 5 for one week while voting was under way.

18-year-old Lorraine Downes wins Miss Mount Maunganui 1983. Photo/File

Central region brand engagement manager for NZME, which owns ZM radio, Matt Davy, said all contestants had to do to enter was have their photos taken.

He said there were thousands of dollars of prizes to give away, including a prize pack from Sanctum Beauty Therapy and Spa, and Fuji Instax cameras for the runners-up and for random spot prizes.

"There are no real hoops to jump through this year which should hopefully encourage more people to get into it and give it a go.

"This year we decided to give it a break and do it a bit differently, but we're hoping to see the return of Miss Mount next New Year's in its original glory."

Leonie Wilson, entrant in the Miss Mt Maunganui competition in 1955. Photo/File

The competition is open to men and women aged between 16 and 30. As the competition was online this year, there would be no junior or teen competitions.

To enter, get your photo taken at the pop-up station opposite Mount Drury between 11am and 2pm tomorrow and Sunday.

Voting will run for a week from January 5 and winners will be announced on January 12 or 13.

Miss Mount Maunganui 1991 Carmen Fowler. Photo/File