She is off to Mexico in January to appear on the international stage - the second time in just three years she has represented New Zealand internationally.
Emily was crowned the regional Miss Five Crowns New Zealand, in 2017, was the Miss Five Crowns New Zealand Charity Ambassador in 2018-2019, and, following selection to travel to the Oceania Miss World Supermodel production in Vietnam last September, was recently awarded the Miss Global New Zealand title.
She is now off to Mexico to compete for the world title against around 55 other contestants and is hard at work fundraising to help her to contest the title.
Emily, an aspiring actress who studied at the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Arts in Christchurch, says the journey has been life-changing.
She says she has come a long way from being a young girl who lacked confidence.
It was the charity work that attracted Emily to getting a foothold in the contest, and since then she says her confidence in herself has grown. She is a ''huge advocate'' of women's rights and says if you are passionate about something, you have to do it.
''When I want something I chase it with all my heart,'' says Emily, who is a personal consultant at Anytime Fitness in Rangiora.
The pageant involves modelling, charity work, public engagements and photography.
''It is not all about who is the prettiest. It is deeper than that. It's about the person,'' she says.
Emily says there is a lot of hard work involved and she has to fund herself. But her love of New Zealand and putting it on the map spurs her on.
