Te Puke's new Kiwifruit Queen Katrina Beaumont was lost for words when she was crowned in front of ball-goers on Friday night at the annual Te Puke Kiwifruit Festival Ball.
The 19-year-old beauty did not think she would win.
"Shock," she replied when asked how she felt when her name was called.
"I'm
a bit overwhelmed at the moment."
The legal secretary for Holland Beckett Lawyers was a firm favourite among the three judges who said she was "the complete package".
"We were looking for somebody who had stickability, local knowledge, consistency and honesty," said judge Debbie Tipuna.
However, they all agreed any of the 12 contestants could have taken the crown.
"We were blown away from the first time we met them ... any of them could have done the job," she said.
Leisen Standen, 24, was first runner-up with Karen Cochrane, 22, second runner-up.
Te Puke High School student Catherine Rodgers, 18, was picked as Miss Photogenic by Te Puke photographer John Willers. Joy Bell, 18, was awarded Miss Friendship.
The girls underwent an intensive seven-week training programme under the guidance of queen co-ordinators experienced in the roles, Andrea McCardle (former Kiwifruit Queen), Paula Marteletti (a princess runner-up) and speech and drama tutor Dianne Leach.
The three worked hard bringing contestants up to speed to present themselves at a range of different events, especially on ball night.
