Georgette wins Grand chance

Georgette Jackson, 25, is crowned Miss Grand International New Zealand at the Miss World New Zealand pageant in Auckland. Photo / Alex Tee

Her passion for making the world a better place, her personality, her talent and, yes, her beauty, has netted a young Taupo woman the chance of a lifetime.

Georgette Jackson, 25, was crowned Miss Grand International New Zealand at the Miss World New Zealand pageant in Auckland recently.

In October, she'll represent New Zealand at an international pageant in Bangkok, Thailand, with the focus on war-torn countries and the theme of bringing an end to war.

Miss Jackson will join women from 86 other countries, competing for the title of Miss Grand International. They will spend three weeks doing promotions, appearances and learning about Thailand before the pageant on October 25.

The winner will live in Thailand for a year.

Miss Jackson said the Miss Grand International crown generally went to winners from Venezuela, the Philippines or Brazil, but she would be thrilled with a top 10 or top 20 place.

She had been briefed on what to expect and told she would be extremely busy, with huge days and plenty going on behind the scenes.

In the lead-up, she has myriad commitments to fit around her dance teaching job in Auckland, and many fundraisers.

One of the requirements was plenty of charity work to combat war and poverty.

While Miss Jackson did not win the main title of Miss World New Zealand, she said she thought she was chosen as Miss Grand International New Zealand partly because of her beliefs. She is a vegan, an animal welfare campaigner and supports an orphanage in Fiji.

"They are obviously looking to send somebody away who has that charity nature and they would pick somebody who aligns themself with that."

That was a perfect fit for Miss Jackson, who said she really wanted to win a title that was associated with causes.

"Some of [the titles] are more about promotion of your country or promotion of yourself, whereas this one aligns more with my beliefs."

She also won the best in the opening number, top talent, for her singing, and awarded the Miss Friendship title.