Third-year law and music student Latafale Auva'a (20), originally from Auckland, was crowned at an event in Auckland last night and told the Otago Daily Times beforehand it was a privilege to be named Miss Samoa New Zealand.
''It's very exciting, because I get to represent New Zealand ... in the Miss Samoa Teuila Pageant in Samoa [later this month].''
The award came with some sadness, as a major motivation to enter the pageant was being in with a chance to go to Samoa and visit her grandmother, but sadly she had just died.
She was at her grandmother's funeral at the weekend and was sure she would have been proud of what she had achieved.
''So that's another important thing to me, just to live out her legacy as a Samoan woman.''
Miss Samoa New Zealand director Ulalemamae Te'eva Matafai said Miss Auva'a was very deserving of receiving the crown.
''It might sound a bit corny, but she has actually got the whole package,'' Ms Matafai said.
She brought the ''outer beauty'', but was also a very talented student, she said.
As Miss Samoa New Zealand she would attend Pacific Island events around the country.
Many people will know Miss Auva'a as the star in Otago University's law television advertisement, which was released in June.
