Charlotte Chapman-Kete, 17, of Mangamuka, was crowned Miss Far North 2018 on Saturday night. Photos / Studio 3 Photography, Zara Booth
Charlotte Chapman-Kete, 17, of Mangamuka, was crowned Miss Far North 2018 on Saturday night. Photos / Studio 3 Photography, Zara Booth
The tiny settlement of Mangamuka is buzzing after four of its young women took home top awards in Miss Far North 2018.
Charlotte Chapman-Kete, 17, won the coveted Miss Far North crown at the Turner Centre in Kerikeri on Saturday night while her first cousin Sharon Edmonds-Chapman, also 17, wasrunner-up. Tohu Harris, 14, who is also related, won first place in Miss Teen Far North, while Blue Hill, 17, another cousin, won the Miss Personality prize.
All four attend Broadwood Area School and Charlotte, Sharon and Blue work after school at Mangamuka Dairy, which is owned by Charlotte's proud mum, Eliza Chapman-Kete.
Charlotte Chapman-Kete, 17, of Mangamuka, was crowned Miss Far North 2018 on Saturday night. Photos / Studio 3 Photography, Zara Booth
Eliza had a simple explanation for the success of Mangamuka, which is on State Highway 1 about halfway between Okaihau and Kaitaia.
''I think they're just naturally beautiful over here,'' she said.
It was her daughter's first time in a beauty pageant — the closest she had come before was competing in Rockquest in a school band — and she was normally more at ease in gumboots than high heels. That didn't stop her also taking home the Miss Catwalk title.
Tohu Harris, 14, of Mangamuka, was named Miss Teen Far North. Photos / Studio 3 Photography, Zara Booth
Preparation for the pageant included walking up and down Mangamuka hill to ''trim her legs''.
Eliza said her daughter could represent the Far North in Miss Earth NZ but that would depend on study commitments. She planned to study hospitality management at QRC Tai Tokerau in Paihia next year.
Although the cousins had been vying for the same crown they were ''very, very supportive'' of each other, she said.
Little Miss Far North winner Vienna Booth, 5, of Takou Bay. Photos / Studio 3 Photography, Zara Booth
Pageant organiser Alarnya Ashby said all entrants shone on stage and made their families proud.
''It's so neat to see them begin their journey as a blank canvas and blossom into beautiful confident young ladies,'' she said.
FULL RESULTS
Miss Far North: 1 Charlotte Chapman-Kete, 17, Mangamuka; 2 Sharon Edmonds-Chapman, 17, Mangamuka; 3 Monique Bradley, 22, Whangārei. Miss Teen Far North: 1 Tohu Harris, 14, Mangamuka; 2 Paige Jury, 14, Kaingaroa; 3 Coolie-Berry Maxwell, 12, Ōkaihau. Little Miss Far North: 1 Vienna Booth, 5, Takou Bay; 2 Mana Peterson, 7, Ahipara; 3 Jorjarose Cross, 11, Ōkaihau. Little Miss Personality: Millie Stovell, 10, Kerikeri. Little Miss Photogenic: Aliyah Hill, 5, Kerikeri. Little Miss Cutie Pie: Isabella Pinkney, 2, Kerikeri. Miss Catwalk: Charlotte Chapman-Kete, 17, Mangamuka. Miss Personality: Blue Hill, 17, Mangamuka. Miss Photogenic: Joy Robinson, 21, Kerikeri. People's Choice: Coolie-Berry Maxwell, 12, Ōkaihau.
