KEY POINTS:
Helped by dozens of bikinis, Pipi Sopp is the comeback beauty queen.
You can call her Miss Coromandel now, but it's a title that's been a long time coming.
That's because since 2003 the 20-year-old has had the number-two spot at the Miss Whangamata pageant wrapped up tighter than car keys in a beach towel.
But Sunday marked a seachange in the 20-year-old's fortunes, when she beat previous winners from Whangamata, her hometown, as well as others from Matarangi, Pauanui and Waihi Beach to take the inaugural regional title.
It was nice to finally shake off the bridesmaid tag, Pipi Sopp said. "After six years in a row, I won the big one."
She said more girls should give beauty pageants a go. It didn't matter whether you placed or not.
"I don't really like going in them but it takes courage to get out there in front of hundreds and hundreds of people. It's definitely a confidence boost."
The former competitive surfer with a top 10 open national ranking thanks her love of togs for her showings year after year - that and not taking the competitions too seriously.
"I love bikinis, I've got hundreds - nah, I've probably got about 50.
"There's probably a few that are pretty serious [about competing] but for most of us, it's summer, it's a fun thing to do."
Pipi Sopp reckons that having won a title, it might be time to wind up her pageant days.
"It'll probably be my last Miss Coromandel. I'll see how it goes with Miss Whangamata [next year]."
For now the Waikato University marketing and PR student is looking forward to relaxing for the rest of the summer, but modelling is something she wouldn't mind trying her hand at.
Pipi Sopp's Miss Coromandel prizes are valued at over $7500 and include a Yamaha 50cc Scooter, a Panasonic DVD Home Cinema System, a return trip to Brisbane with accommodation at Q1 Spa Resort and a contract to represent Diesel Bourbon and Cola as its face for 2008.
About 1200 people turned out to watch the pageant.
Portia Wilson, 18, of Drury, was placed second and Kristie Boyd, 19, from Auckland, was third.
