Weekend Rewind: Beauty queens on TV

Miss New Zealand meets Crocodile Dundee, in 2005 reality series Miss Popularity. Photo / Supplied

Opinion

A new Miss Universe New Zealand will be crowned tonight in Auckland. NZ On Screen’s Nicky Harrop looks back to the days of televised beauty contests, and revisits some of those who have previously donned the sash and tiara

New Zealanders used to have something of a soft spot for beauty queens - more Kiwis watched the 1981 Miss New Zealand contest on TV than Charles and Diana's wedding. While the 90s saw the contests drift out of fashion, recent pageants have shown some small but positive steps in the busting of stereotypes - this year's Miss World New Zealand competition saw a contestant in a wheelchair compete for the first time.

Early television coverage of the contests and contestants was high on the cheese-o-meter scale, but it also shows how our idea of beauty and pageants has changed over the years.

Town Cryer: Beauty Queens

Max Cryer interviews three early Miss New Zealand winners in this 70s TV item. A winner from the 1920s, who refuses to reveal her identity, recalls her mother insisting she wear a large cape over her bathing suit. 1949 winner Mary 'Bobbie' Woodward talks about adjusting to life after the dizzy highs of the pageant. And 1954 winner Moana Whaanga (nee Manley) reveals she was also a national swimming rep.

Miss World in New Zealand

The Miss Hutt Valley Wool Princess finalists meet Miss World 1965, in this glittering Lower Hutt fashion parade. Proving that "wool can be glamorous," the young women parade an assortment of fleecy numbers, including togs, a wedding dress, and something called 'television pyjamas.'

Looking at New Zealand - Beauty Queens

"The natural beauties of New Zealand include its mountains, its lakes, its beaches ... and its girls." Meet the Miss New Zealand 1969 finalists, in this TV piece with a narration very much "of its time." While each has their charms, our money is on Miss Manawatu, who "adores frilly nighties."

Miss New Zealand 1973

It seems things haven't massively moved forward by the time we reach this Miss New Zealand 1973 broadcast. While the compere offers delights such as: "Carol you've got a delectable figure but it doesn't quite tie in with your cooking," the contestants talk modesty and hobbies. Highlights come in the form of a performance from Eddie Low, and some vintage style tips courtesy of Miss Horowhenua: wigs are out for women, but in for men.

The Miss New Zealand Show 1984

1983 was always going to be a tough act to follow, after Lorraine Downes claimed the spotlight as our first ever Miss Universe winner. The Miss New Zealand Show 1984 gives it a good nudge though, offering a Golden Kiwi lottery draw and a dance routine to Cyndi Lauper's Girls Just Wanna Have Fun set in an Oamaru quarry. There is, however, something of a hitch when host Peter Sinclair announces the wrong winner.

Miss Popularity

Miss New Zealand meets Crocodile Dundee, in 2005 reality series Miss Popularity. Ten beauty pageant contestants find themselves in the Australian outback, competing to become "the ultimate Kiwi chick." Encounters with camels and snakes are mixed with more sedate pursuits including cake baking. Contestants include future All Blacks WAGs Casey Green and Jessie Gurunathan.