Miss World New Zealand 2015 finale concluded with the crowning of Deborah Lambie. Deborah Lambie also won the 'Sportswoman of the Year' special award. Deborah will now represent New Zealand at the Miss World 2015 pageant. Hayley Robinson finished as the first runner-up, whilst Te Rua Wallace finished as the second runner-up.
Deborah Lambie is a medical student and was a Rhodes scholarship finalist in 2014. Deborah is not new to the pageantry world; she was the second runner-up in Miss Universe New Zealand 2013. Earlier, she also participated in the World Supermodel pageant in Fiji in 2015 and was placed amongst Top 6 finalists. She was also awarded Miss Speech Award at the World Miss University competition held in Korea in 2014. She is a strong advocate of empowering women through education.
Hayley Robinson, the audience favourite to win the title, finished as the first runner-up and will now represent New Zealand at the Miss International 2015 pageant. She has studied Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) full time at Te Rito Maioha. Simultaneously she worked full time for the NZ Police. Hayley is the winner of Miss Manawatu and Miss Grand Prix NZ 2012. Hayley also won the Top Model award as she scored the highest in the cocktail dress and evening gown round.
Te Rua Wallace was placed second runner up. She is former student of Ruamata School, and fully embraces being Maori and says what matters to her the most is her family.
At the same event, Georgette Jackson was crowned Miss Grand International NZ 2015, Emily Young was crowned Miss Intercontinental NZ 2015. Ceri McVinnie was crowned the Miss Tourism NZ 2015.
Apart from the coveted titles, some special awards were also bestowed upon the contestants, Swati Shresta Rao, who was the first ever contestant to participate in a beauty pageant on a wheel chair, was awarded the Esther Jordan Legacy Award. Georgette Jackson clinched the Best in Talent award and Emma Duxfield won the prestigious ‘Beauty with a Purpose’ award.
A total of nineteen contestants competed for the coveted title of Miss World New Zealand 2015. The contestants were judged on the basis of their performance in various rounds like Evening Gown, Cocktail dress, and Question and Answer rounds.\