Pageant dream becomes nightmare

Last year Doubtless Bay woman Lonneke Botello was planning to travel to Berlin as New Zealand's finalist in the Queen of the World beauty pageant. Now she says the dream was a mirage, and she does not believe that she is the only pageant contestant who has been used.

Ms Botello said she believed the main organisers of pageants in New Zealand were systematically ripping off contestants and their sponsors. And anyone who questioned what was happening, as she had, was quickly sent packing.

In October last year she was crowned New Zealand Queen of the World 2013, the main prize being entry to the international pageant in Berlin. The prize included the $10,000 entry fee and expenses for contesting the international competition. She was told that she would only need to fundraise for her flights.

So she began "vigorous" fundraising, accepting donations from supporters in Doubtless Bay and Kaitaia, but a week after she was crowned the director of Pageants of New Zealand, Dianne Foley, told her that the international event had been cancelled. She could compete in another pageant this year, but would need to raise $5000, instead of $3000, to cover costs for extra 'training', which she never received.

She was also told, by the CEO of Face of Beauty International, Mila Manuel, that she would not qualify for some overseas competitions because, at 63kg, she was 10kg too heavy.

"Last month Mila Manuel offered me a new title, because the Queen of the World 2013 final had been cancelled," she said.

"The new title was Miss Asia Pacific World, giving me a chance to compete in South Korea, which was due to take place this week (May 19-31). I would need to come up with the $500 entry fee in two days, and $2500 for flights before May 19.

"Dianne Foley was not prepared to pay the $500 entry, even though my Queen of the World prize, which I never received, had included paid entry to an international competition.

"After questioning the main organisers of Miss Asia Pacific World about safety measures for contestants travelling to South Korea, I was assured we would be taken care of.

"However, having raised the $500 entry fee, I received an email from Mila Manuel stating that the owners of Miss Asia Pacific had told her that I had asked if Korea was safe, and that they had seen photos of me and I was 'not the girl that they wanted in their competition so therefore you are not going'.

"I was shocked, and later found that this was not the case," Ms Botello said.

"My application had not even been sent to Miss Asia Pacific World. I also found that another girl was ready to go, even though I had already been offered the title.

"I'm not concerned that I won't be competing internationally. My concern is the ways in which Dianne Foley and Mila Manuel draw in vulnerable girls, and make false promises.

"I am embarrassed that my community trusted me and what I was doing, and now I feel I have let them down, having trusted the pageant organisers to follow through with their promises."

She had found no proof that the Queen of the World international competition was ever going to take place, in 2012, 2013 or 2014. The last known event was held in 2011, with no news of any further competitions.

"It saddens me to think that Pageants of New Zealand is manufacturing competition opportunities, collecting entry fees and not following through, preying on and selecting enthusiastic young women and drawing them in with comments such as 'Are you interested in being a New Zealand international representative? You have the look they are after,'" she added.

"I am not sure how many other girls have fallen into the same traps as I have, but I suspect there could be many more who may be afraid to speak out. I want to tell my story to warn other girls to be cautious, as they may end up being victims of what a lot of people fear beauty pageants to be - scams."

She had learned the hard way that not all beauty pageants were created equal.

"Competing in a beauty pageant is a great experience, and I have learned a lot, both positive and negative, about the 'world of beauty'. It is a great platform to get a positive message out to the public, and raise funds for charities or people in need," she said.

"But if you are looking at competing in a beauty pageant, look it up, research it well, and don't be afraid to ask questions. If the organisation has difficulty answering your questions, then they are not transparent, so don't do it."

Miss Universe New Zealand Ltd had been very supportive when she contacted them for advice. A semi-finalist in Miss Universe New Zealand 2013, she knew she could trust the organisers. National director Nigel Godfrey had told her that her story was sad and shocking, but was typical of the complaints his organisation was hearing on an increasingly regular basis.

In recognition of the sponsorship she had raised and the disappointment she had experienced, Miss Universe NZ had invited her to travel with the 2014 finalists to a retreat, likely to take place overseas, to serve as a chaperone, and to impart some of her considerable knowledge regarding nutrition and fitness.

All and any funds she had raised over and above her basic expenses would be donated on her behalf to Variety, the Children's Charity.

Ms Botello said she was very pleased that her fundraising efforts, which she would now continue, would support such a good cause, while best of all she would have the chance to share her professional expertise in health and nutrition with other young women, which had always been her motivation for competing in beauty pageants.

At 24 she had come to terms with the fact that she would not compete internationally. She was getting on with her life, but she had been hurt, disappointed and saddened at the way she had been treated.

"I know they'll keep running these competitions, and I think that's wrong," she added.

"They make everything sound so lovely but they don't tell you what you have to do, and they make promises they can't keep. I don't like to think that other girls will go through what I've experienced."

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Pageants of New Zealand and Face of Beauty International were invited to respond but did not do so.