Whanganui's Jessica Tyson is now Miss World New Zealand

By Liz Wylie

Multimedia Journalist, Whanganui Chronicle·Whanganui Chronicle·

6 May, 2018 06:00 PM4 mins to read

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Whanganui born Jessica Tyson was crowned Miss World New Zealand at SkyCity in Auckland on Saturday night. Photo/ Instagram @jessicatyson08

The Miss World New Zealand title for 2018 has been won by a woman from Whanganui - and her family couldn't be more proud of her achievement.

Māori Television reporter and presenter Jessica Tyson was crowned at the SkyCity Convention Centre on Saturday night and her whānau are very proud, said her uncle Colin Tyson.

"She has worked very hard for this and we are all very proud of her.

"It's not just about her beauty, it's about her whole person."

View this post on Instagram

I sit here trying to find the words to express how I feel about this moment. A dream come true? Yes, definitely! 🙏🏾 I woke up today the happiest girl in the world. I am so incredibly grateful for the Miss World NZ organisation and judges for choosing me, for my family and friends who flew from as far as Australia to come and support me at the show, to all of my supporters who have helped me with my fundraising efforts for @annieslifeline by attending my events, buying raffle tickets, donating and more, to our gorgeous contestants this year who I have become such close friends with during the past three months, my designers @anasabdullah.kl @jo_marie_wearable_art & @srishtikaurdesigns and to my sponsors @otuwines @manukadrnz @new_face_laser and @tomuri___flowers . To our stunning @anniievans Miss World NZ 2017 I feel so privileged to walk in your footsteps after you have done such an incredible job representing NZ. I promise to do you proud and I can’t wait to continue working with you! 🙏🏾 Ever since I was a teenager it was my dream to represent Aotearoa at Miss World. I am overwhelmed with excitement to have the opportunity to use this platform to help others within Aotearoa and the world. It’s going to be an incredible year and I can’t wait to make you all so proud! ♥️ Dress: @belluccio MU: @melissamatthews_ Tan: @spraysbysarah Hair & Nails by the team from @blushbabynz including @natulique_nz & @tlc.nailsnz Flowers: Tomuri & Co Photo by @jeffhuang_nzccs #MissWorldNZ #MissWorld

A post shared by JESS TYSON 🐬🔮 (@jessicatyson08) on May 5, 2018 at 2:08pm PDT

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Tyson, of Te Atihaunui-ā-Pāpārangi iwi, moved to Auckland in 2012 to do a communication studies degree, majoring in journalism, then studied te reo Māori .

Jess is crowned Miss Teen World as a 15-year-old Whanganui High School student.

Now co-presenter on Rereātea, Māori Television's online midday news bulletin, Tyson has told her Instagram followers that the Miss World title is "a dream come true."

The 25-year-old has already represented New Zealand at two international pageants in China and Japan.

In 2008 she won the Miss Teen World pageant in Australia, placed second at Miss World New Zealand and took part in Miss International in Tokyo in 2016 and won Miss Global City in Shanghai last year.

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"I woke up today the happiest girl in the world," Tyson told her online followers on Sunday.

Jessica Tyson (right) with Monita Skipworth at the 2017 Matariki Awards at Auckland Museum

"I am so incredibly grateful for the Miss World New Zealand organisation and judges for choosing me, for my family and friends who flew from as far as Australia to come and support me at the show, to all of my supporters who have helped me with my fundraising efforts for Annie's Lifeline by attending my events."

Tyson is dedicated to supporting mental health causes and has been fundraising for Annie's Lifeline - an organisation that gives scholarships to youth who are suicide survivors or have gone through strenuous mental health problems.

View this post on Instagram

All smiles because @missworldnz prejudging is complete YAAAAAS!! The build up to today has been so intense and I feel so proud about how well we all did! Only 2 weeks until the final now 🙏🏾💕🌸 Thank you to my beautiful friend @abbyhazreem for waking up super early today to do my makeup! I love the look and it matched every single outfit I wore! 💕 Wearing my beautiful fuschia cocktail dress by @anasabdullah.kl Earrings by @alamkaara Lipstick by @samala.cosmetics

A post shared by JESS TYSON 🐬🔮 (@jessicatyson08) on Apr 20, 2018 at 10:57pm PDT

The charity was started by 2017 Miss World New Zealand Annie Evans and Tyson organised an auction and fashion show to raise funds for the cause in April.