August 17, 2017
Mana Maori X- factor for Miss Universe
The new Miss Universe New Zealand says her mana Maori made the difference on the night.
Harlem-Cruz Ataarangi Ihaia took the crown in Auckland on the weekend.
The 19-year-old from Ngati Kahungunu teaches at Te Kupenga of te Matauranga Kohanga Reo at Onekawa.
She says she loves speaking te reo Maori and keeping the culture alive, and took that into the competition.
"The judges are now looking for real woman has to have brains and the whole package so you use to have looks gotta know your stuff and you have an open heart and everything that's happening in New Zealand. I had to go into this competition holding on to my mana Maori because I thought this was the only thing that was going to make me different from the other girls," she says.
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