Of the 18 beauties who entered the Miss Waimarama 2018 beauty competition Aimee Pitcher of Havelock North stood out from the rest.
The 18-year-old said a pair of close friends had convinced her to enter the competition and her surprise at the announcement was evident as she walked to the stage with her hands to her mouth, covering a beaming smile.
One of said friends was teary-eyed at the front of the stage as she watched her friend take to the stage as the beauty competition winner.
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"I'm quite shocked to be perfectly honest. I've never been confident with my body but I thought 'what have I got to lose?' and entered," Ms Pitcher said.