A Wairarapa lass may yet claim this year's Miss Tui title.
Masterton's Vicky Paine has been named as one of the competition's eight finalists earlier this week.
Miss Paine, 20, who is finishing her studies in therapeutic massage, said she has wanted to be a Miss Tui since she was 16.
Originally from England, Miss Paine has lived in Masterton since 2004 and has also wanted to be a model from a young age.
"You see the Tui girls on TV and they're very inspirational," she said.