Last October, Queenstown resident Monique Cooley (22) was crowned Miss Otago.
On Queen's Birthday Weekend this year she will be back in the limelight, in Wellington, competing for the title of Miss Universe New Zealand.
Miss Cooley has got her hands firmly on her dress, imported from China.
She had planned to wear the dress at last year's pageant, but it did not arrive in time, and she was obliged to wear a hired dress.
In the end, though, this made no difference to her pageant placing.
She said the situation last year had been a good learning experience.
It would help her cope with pageant crises.
The nerves were "of course" still there, Miss Cooley said.
However, she had been preparing herself through gym sessions and speech lessons.
"I do generally keep fit, but this has been more intense training." The support of her mother, Linda, and local sponsors Michael Hill Jeweller and Solo Clothing had also set her up for a stress-free trip to Wellington on May 27.
Miss Cooley would not reveal the colour of her pageant dress just yet.
She will spend a week in the capital, where she and 10 other girls will run through rehearsals, have interviews, do photo shoots and visit Parliament.
They would also visit rest-homes, Miss Cooley said.
Although this was only her second pageant, Miss Cooley believed she had an even chance of winning the national competition, and of being the first Miss Otago to do so.
"To represent Queenstown as the wee town at the bottom of the South Island is great," Ms Cooley said.
A few of the girls had done more than just one pageant, she said.
However, she did not feel she had a big disadvantage.
The beauty therapist hoped for a career as a model.
This was a step in the right direction.
"I'll see where the pageant takes me," she said.
"It would be great to get called up by a modelling agency."
But for now, her ideal result would be to take home the title of Miss Swimwear and Miss Universe New Zealand on June 3, Miss Cooley said.
