Half Pinay is 2014 Miss World New Zealand

MANILA, Philippines - A New Zealand-born Filipino beauty, Arielle Diane Garciano (photo), was crowned Miss World New Zealand 2014, the Philippine Embassy in Wellington said.

The beauty pageant was held at Rendezvous Grand Hotel in Auckland last April 26. Garciano, who has a Filipino father, comes from Lyttelton, Christchurch. 

The 22-year-old stunning beauty with a big heart actively helped in the Miss World New Zealand Beauty with a Mission project in collaboration with the Rotary Club of New Lynn to raise money for Loren, a Filipino child who has been chosen by the Rotary Oceania Medical Aid for Children to undergo a successful facial surgery at Starship Hospital in Auckland. 

In her profile, Garciano said that being a New Zealander with parents of different ethnicities “has enabled me to widen my life’s perspectives.” 

She loves fashion, art and traveling. 

“I feel privileged to be part of this year’s event. I am going to use it as a platform to find new passions, gain new skills and opportunities that I otherwise wouldn’t have access to… my ideal job would involve inspiring and helping other people positively,” Garciano said.

In congratulating Garciano, Philippine Ambassador to New Zealand Virginia Benavidez stated that the beauty queen embodies the best of both Filipino and New Zealand cultures and values, exemplifies the Filipina’s innate warmth, beauty and hospitality and demonstrates a caring spirit to help make a difference in people’s lives and contribute to humanitarian causes and charitable projects.

“Your sacrifices and efforts to help bring five-year-old Loren to New Zealand for a life changing experience are truly laudable and exemplary. You carry yourself with innate poise, grace, aura, intelligence and compassion. With our heartfelt prayers and best wishes as you embark on another chapter in your life to fulfill your dreams and as you carry with you the cheers, applause and prayers from your family and all of us from the Filipino community and people from New Zealand and the wider community here,”  Benavidez said.