Pineapple dress proves a big winner for Antisa

By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Wearing a dress made of pineapple would turn anyone's head - especially those belonging to judges of a beauty pageant.

Rotorua Girls' High School student Antisa Howitt wore the dress as part of her national Filipino costume when she was crowned Miss New Zealand Asia Pacific Tourism Queen of the Year in Auckland.

Winning the title means she will travel to China in October to represent New Zealand at an international beauty pageant featuring more than 50 young women.

Being an ambassador for New Zealand and The Philippines is a role the 16-year-old takes very seriously indeed.

To prepare for the pageant, she travelled to the Philippines to have her national costume custom-made

Made of fabric derived from pineapple fibres, it was handmade and embellished with pearls.

The Auckland-born teenager earned the right to enter the pageant by placing 2nd runner-up at a separate pageant involving women of New Zealand and Filipino descent.

Her mother belongs to the Bay of Plenty Philippines Society and in recent years, Antisa has taken an interest in learning more about her mother's culture.

She says entering the pageant was a fun way to celebrate her roots.

"Going in to it I thought it was going to be hard and really competitive with girls ripping each other's dresses.

"But the girls were friendly and supportive."

As part of the pageant, she was interviewed by the judging panel, photographed and competed on stage.

Contestants modelled evening wear, swimsuits and their national costumes, as well performing an item in front of 1000 people.

Antisa performed a "spiritual" dance involving candles, which she insists is less dangerous than it sounds.

As well as taking out the overall title, she won a prize for the Best National Costume.

"My jaw dropped when they announced I had won," she said.

With only five weeks until she leaves for China to compete in the Miss Tourism Queen of the Year International contest, she is focusing on raising enough funds to pay for a new wardrobe.

Although her flights and three-week trip are paid for, she is expected to wear different outfits when she attends various charity functions.

Rotorua Girls' High School teacher and Filipino Cherry Andrews said they would be approaching various organisations for funds.

"This is an exciting opportunity to promote Rotorua to the rest of the world," she said. "I know Antisa will make us proud."