The multi-faceted mill town of Kawerau is in the national spotlight again but this time it's because of beauty not beastly statistics.
New Zealand's freshly crowned Miss Universe NZ Ria van Dyke, a 21-year-old psychology and sociology honours graduate, was born in Kawerau.
Danielle Hayes, touted as the one to watch in
this season's New Zealand Top Model, was born, bred and still lives in Kawerau while BMX sensation and recently crowned world's sexiest woman in sport Sarah Walker, also claims Kawerau as her home town.
When Kawerau mayor Malcolm Campbell was asked if he was surprised three of the nation's current beauties hailed from the Eastern Bay town, he said it was just one more aspect of Kawerau people know little about.
"There's so many positives here but it seems only the negative ones get the attention," Mr Campbell said. "These girls have parents who have brought them up well and support what they do and it shows."
Ms van Dyke was born in Kawerau in 1989, while her South African father was a locum in the town.
She was home-schooled as many months were spent following her father to different jobs around the world and travelling with her mother, who owned a business language school, on recruiting trips to Asia.
And it may be that she's a Kiwi girl through and through that stopped the beauty taking off her clothes in Las Vegas this week.
The Miss Universe pageant released official photos taken by photographer Fadil Berisha of some of the contestants posing topless and covered only in strategically-placed body paint. The nudity has caused an uproar of criticism from many commentators who view the racy photos as a blatant attempt to increase ratings. Miss van Dyke was one of the contestants who opted not to strip off.
The Miss Universe pageant will be held on Monday next week.
As a graduate of University of Auckland with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours, Ms van Dyke plans to continue her studies through a Masters thesis after her year-long reign as Miss Universe New Zealand.
