KEY POINTS:
Big smiles and big hair were the order of the night at Saturday's Miss Universe New Zealand pageant at Auckland's Langham Hotel.
Strutting before a sold-out audience, 24 contestants took to the runway in swimwear, designer wear and evening wear during the four-hour show.
Organiser Val Lott was delighted with the turnout and said the competition was undergoing a major resurgence in popularity.
Lucire editor Jack Yan joined the judging panel of five as the sole male judge, a position he joked that he was well qualified for as he knows "something about broads".
Question time saw no mention of world peace, though one contestant had the crowd in fits of laughter when she named Angelina Jolie her role model, for adopting all those "disprivileged children".
As midnight rolled on, Laural Barrett was crowned Miss New Zealand 2007, ahead of runners-up Sylvia Laurenson and Jessica Body.
Ms Barrett will go on to compete at the Miss Universe pageant in Mexico next month.
