For immediate release
Miss Universe New Zealand's director defends national costume choice
Auckland, August 24 (JY Media) A story that
appeared online last week suggesting that Val
Lott, director of the Miss Universe New Zealand
pageant, did not support the winner in securing a
national costume has been attacked as a 'fiction'.
Ms Lott says the story features misquotes and
there was support from the pageant in securing a national costume.
The story that appeared in the Australian-owned
Stuff website failed to mention that Miss
Universe New Zealand 2010, Ria van Dyke, has worn
an outfit from an American designer, Sherri Hill,
only after three dozen New Zealand designers
refused to support her, and some New Zealand
designs were deemed unsuitable for a pageant.
Not long after winning Miss Universe New Zealand,
Miss van Dyke was deemed one of the most likely
delegates to win the international title. This
caught the eye of Sherri Hill, who offered to
make a gown featuring a silver fern.
'At the end of the day, Ria had to be comfortable
with what she wanted to wear, and I encourage the
winner to be active in find that item. While I
had local contacts prepared to make the national
costume, Ria chose to go with Sherri, and I fully
support her decision,' says Ms Lott.
Ms Lott says she would have preferred a New
Zealand designer, as did Miss van Dyke, but
Sherri Hill presented an immediate, professional solution.
'We are all very proud of our beautiful Ria and I
was delighted to secure New Zealand sponsors for
ball gowns, cocktail dresses, other clothing and
accessories, health products, gym membership,
beauty products, photography and, above all, pay
the Miss Universe fee plus an all-expenses trip
including travel insurance,' she adds.
'It is unfair for certain journalists to try to
bring Miss New Zealand down days out from the
Miss Universe finals, something that seems to happen with worrying frequency.
'I am concerned about the lack of respect shown
by some journalists when the patriotic thing to
do is to get behind New Zealand.
'If they had simply asked Ria or myself about the
situation, we would have happily told them,
rather than represent opinion as fact.'
She notes that the 2010 pageant was the most
successful in years, and irresponsible reporting
only served to hurt the interests of Miss van
Dyke and the many sponsors—including the many New
Zealand fashion designers who did provide
clothing and accessories—who participated.
'We found a wonderful Miss Universe New Zealand
pageant for 2010, had lots of memorable outings
and ended up with a wonderful Miss Universe New
Zealand. It is only from the generous sponsorship
of our sponsors, in particular the Museum Hotel
this year, that we can produce a wonderful pageant.
'We wish Ria all the best for the final night.'
The Miss Universe pageant airs today in the
United States, on NBC and Telemundo.
ends