Before then the Waimarama surf lifesaver traversed the globe with her British parents and their work commitments.
"I was born in Durban before I lived in Asia for seven years, four in Vietnam and three in Thailand." She then moved to San Clemente, California, a town about halfway between Los Angeles and San Diego.
"I love the beaches over there. I love the beach anywhere and I love to surf and skate."
She added the biggest difference between school in New Zealand and the United States was the ability to choose your own timetable.
When asked by Hawke's Bay Today what corner of the world she called home, the surfer answered: "I'm not sure, no one has really asked me that before, but I'd like to call Hawke's Bay my home one day."
The Havelock North High School student is set to start Year 13 and said she wanted to attend the University of Otago with the hope of becoming a reconstructive surgeon.
"My dad was born without part of his jaw and people have always been pre-judging him.
"That was my inspiration for wanting to become a surgeon. I want to help people have a second chance and not be judged. I take all the sciences but I think my favourite would have to be biology. My Year 12 biology teacher, Mr Loyd, was really cool."
She said she liked Hawke's Bay for its "friendly people".
"I'm a people person and the people here are so welcoming. I'm really excited to be representing Waimarama like this."
She said she was unsure and a little embarrassed at how her friends and family would react to her new-found local fame.
"I didn't tell many people I was entering so I guess they will all be a bit surprised when they find out I won," she said.
Along with the Miss Waimarama title, Amy-Louise took home a year-long membership to Nfinite Fitness and Health in Napier, a 100 bouquet and prize pack filled with DVDs, CDs, perfume, books and $200 voucher to Cameo Skin, Body, Beauty in Hastings.