Contests ‘add confidence’

Press, 11 February 1986, Page 9

Contests ‘add confidence’

Competitors in beauty contests gained more confidence in themselves from the experience, said the winner of the “Miss New Zealand” title, Lynda McManus, last evening. The model, aged 19, who won the “Miss Canterbury” title last year, said women who entered the contests made friends and met many people. Protesters against the contests did not bother her, she said. “That’s their opinion — I don’t agree with them but if that’s the way they wish to show it, as long as they don’t get in my

way, it’s okay.”

The “Miss New Zealand” show, held at the Regent Theatre, in Dunedin on Saturday, was twice interrupted by four female protesters. About 45 protesters outside the theatre chanted and held banners against the contest.

Miss McManus, formerly of Westport, attended Buller High School and left at the end of the sixth form to work for a local department store.

Her first modelling job, for the store’s mail order catalogue, was arranged through the Spotlight Modelling Agency, in

Christchurch, which, recognising her potential, continued to use her in other assignments. A year ago, one of the agency’s directors, Maree Pannell, asked her to come to Christchurch because, said Miss McManus, “there’s no work for a model in Westport.” She had always wanted to model because “its something different and something else to try.” “It’s not as glamorous as it’s made out to be but it’s lot of fun — it has its ups and downs like any job.”

Miss McManus hopes the contest win will help

her get more modelling jobs, especially overseas.

She will travel to London in November for the “Miss World” contest, her second trip out of New Zealand and her second to London, and hopes to travel more afterwards.

Miss McManus hopes to visit her family in Westport on Thursday. Her parents, a sister, and two brothers were “very thrilled” at her win, she said. Miss McManus’s victory is the first time in 10 years that the national title has gone to a “Miss Canterbury.”