DOMINION’S QUEEN OF BEAUTY

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 49, 22 November 1926, Page 9

DOMINION’S QUEEN OF BEAUTY

MBS M C MILLAN CHOSEN AS “MISS NEW ZEALAND” MISS WILSON HER MAID OF HONOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS AROUSE INTENSE ENTHUSIASM

Auckland, November 21. Miss Thelma McMillan (“Miss Otago") was elected “Miss New Zealand” .by the special judging committee yesterday, and to Wellington went second honours, Miss Isobel Wilson being chosen as her m aid of honour. It is many years since His Majesty s Theatre rang with such applause as followed the announcement made by Mr. Louis Cohen last night. The house was packed to the doors, and long before the beauties were due to arrive the outside of the theatre and His Majesty s Arcade were thronged with hundreds who waited in suspense.

'Auckland was on the tiptoe of excitement all day, while the girls themselves were in a state of general nervousness and hopeful anticipation.

The eight finalists appeared first at 9 o’clock, when individual ovations were accorded each. The audience sat through various acts waiting only for the great moment when the Dominion’s queen of beauty would be announced. The atmosphere was electric, and when the curtain fell on the final act one could feel a thrill pass through the packed house. DRAMATIC ANNOUNCEMENT. The curtain rose to disclose the eight finalists lined before a dais packed with flowers and gifts. A great. demonstration followed, but it was immediately stilled when Mr. Cohen walked on the stage. He made a short speech regarding the beauty of womanhood, with special reference to those before the audience, and spoke of the wonderful manner In which the contest had been conducted. His method of announcing the winner was dramatic. The house had not realised that he had finished his preliminary remarks before he said “Thelma McMillan is ‘Miss New Zealand.’” Up went a roar like thunder, and it was taken up bv the crowd outside. His Majesty’s positively shook as the huge audience let loose its pent-up feelings. Miss McMillan retained her usual composure, and she was cheered to the echo as Mr. Cohen placed the ribbon of honour about her. The noise subsided and again (fie house waited in perfect quiet for the second announcement.

"Isobel Wilson, of Wellington” began Mr. Cohen, and again the audience let itself go in a perfect tornado of applause. It got to its feet and cheered itself hoarse, while hundreds of streamers came down about the girls. Obviously Miss Wilson got a great shock She started back when the announcement was made, and did not at first seem to understand it, but she was immediately surrounded and kissed by the other finalists, who did the same to Miss McMillan. ANOTHER DEMONSTRATION. It was a long time before the demonstration in the house subsided. Then followed a tremendous one in the Arcade. Both “Miss New Zealand” and her maid of honour appeared on the balcony of the theatre and were given round after round of thunderous applause. The police had difficulty in keeping order in the street, and as a car left with the finalists thousands strained forward and ran cheering after them. In Queen Street, traffic was congested and it took the best part of an hour to restore order. The demonstration can truthfully be characterised as one of the most amazing in the history of the city.

( CHOICE POPULAR. There is no doubt whatever that the selections of the judges are most popular and that both the girls wil.l be worthy representatives of the Dominion. A wonderful sporting spirit was shown to the lucky pair by the other girls, including “Miss Wellington,” whose name before the selection was announced was freely mentioned as the possible winner of the coveted title. They were the first to congratulate Miss McMillan and Miss Wilson, and all feel that the best girls won. MISS McMILLAN PROUD OF HONOUR.

Miss McMillan wants the Dominion to know how proud she is to be its queen of beautv, and says that she will do her best to be true to the responsibility that is hers.

A MESSAGE TO WELLINGTON. “Tell the people of Wellington how proud I am to have achieved the honour for them,” said Miss Wilson to a reporter. “I never expected to get as far as I have, and I got a great shock on the stage when Mr. Cohen announced that I was second. I think the other girls are all better than me. They have all been dears to me, and I’m only sorry that we all couldn’t have got a place. Although I have been having a wonderful time in Auckland, I’m looking forward to coming back to Wellington, and the people who were so good to me during the contest. I specially want to say how lovely Miss McCubbin has been to me the whole time, and especially since last night.”

It was a peculiar coincidence that Miss McMillan was born in Wellington and Miss Wilson was born in Dunedin. >