A transgender Auckland teen rewrote pageant history early this morning after earning a place in next month's final of the Battle of the Babes.
Amy Brosnahan was among the top nine finalists of the Auckland heat going through to national finals.
A jubilant Brosnahan, who only days out from the pageant revealed to organisers she was not born a female, said it was a trailblazing moment in her life. But she was then told she could not enter.
Brosnahan, 18,went to the Human Rights Commission demanding to be reinstated in the competition.
"It means the world and I'm very happy with myself," she said. "I'm forging something special not just for me but for other people like me."
Battle of the Babes organiser Andrew Featherston said Brosnahan earned her place on merit. "We didn't refer to the transgender thing at all. It was all about her performance and on her looks."
The aspiring model said she would prepare for the next stage of the competition by doing what all models do best. "I'm going to celebrate tonight then go straight online to look for some new outfits."
The national finals will be in Auckland next month.