Miss Otago Pageant flowers again at the garden centre

Miss Otago Pageant contestants show off their sashes at the weekend. Photo: Jane Dawber

The Miss Otago Pageant might have been away for more than a decade, but contestants for the latest Dunedin show were back in force at the weekend.

Next Saturday, 19 women, aged 17 to 24, will take part in the Miss Otago Pageant, which was last held 12 years ago.

Other titles to be won include Miss Photogenic, Miss Friendship and Miss Swimwear.

The 19 contestants received their pageant sashes at a 1.30pm ceremony attended by more than 100 friends, family and members of the public at Nichols Garden Centre, Dunedin, on Saturday.

Contestants spoke briefly about their backgrounds, lives and interests, and took part in a Refind Rig Fashion Show at the centre.

Most of the contestants are studying at the University of Otago, or undertaking other tertiary study.

Several said they enjoyed various forms of sport and exercise, such as running.

Several also liked spending time in the outdoors.

Participants appeared in a lively range of fashionable dresses, and some striking shoes were also worn, including at least one brilliantly flame-coloured pair.

Pageant director Donna Dobbinson was inspired to revive the pageant after moving from Christchurch back to Dunedin, her home city, after the February earthquake.

Mrs Dobbinson has been working for the past seven months to organise the show and find contestants.

The contestants had also been working hard, initially to find sponsors, and more recently in considerable behind-the-scenes training for the pageant, she said.

The pageant was helping the young women improve their confidence, including in public speaking.

The event had a positively collaborative spirit and the contestants, as well as making their own individual preparations, were strongly supporting each other, she said.

Participants are also fundraising for the pageant charity, the Red Cross Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

john.gibb@odt.co.nz