BA beauty Zaira Begg will represent Fiji at the World Supermodel Finals in Macau in May after being the highest-scoring adult entrant at the competition, which ended on Saturday at Pacific Harbour.
The 22-year-old former Miss Fiji won the evening wear category to finish a frontrunner behind eventual winner Emily Norris-Perkins and runner-up Tiare Simonis, both Australian nationals.
“Because Zaira is the highest-scoring adult she gets a wild card as the representative for her home country, Fiji,” said Gain Dooley, the pageant’s chief executive officer.
“There were 11 entrants and she was the highest.”
The Fijian contestant said she was very excited when she was given the news back stage after the crowning ceremony. She isn’t fazed by the condition that she pay her own way to participate in Asia.
“I am so excited, I don’t know how I’m going to get this (fundraising) done and I don’t know when, but as soon as possible if I can get some help,” Ms Begg said.
“I have to pay my own expenses to get there and the fee for participating, but when I get there everything is provided.”
The Nausori police officer said she agreed to participate when invited to be the Fijian representative at the annual event because she wanted to inspire young Fijian girls to follow their passion and because she wanted to influence public perception of police officers.
“I felt good coming back to modelling going from heels to boots and boots to heels. I want to be an inspiration to all the young models in Fiji that they can do it. Their job isn’t the only thing that describes them,” she said.
“You can do anything. If you love something just do it. If you have a passion for something commit to it.”
Pageant media director Onisimo Moi said the organisers were impressed with Zaira’s performance throughout the week.
“Tonight’s show went unexpected. Everyone was surprised about the results. Just from the week’s performance and the public reaction, I think we were all betting for Fiji. Zaira did very well.”
The 11 contestants were judged on poise and grace while wearing formal wear; the cut, style and their presentation of swimwear, their ability to present themselves in front of a camera during various photoshoots and their ability to hold themselves during an on-stage interview.
The five-member international judging panel was headed by Duane Gazi-White, the director of scouting at Trump Models Management in New York City.
The Macau winner of the pageant wins a year with Trump Models.
