Kia ora! Miss Universe-New Zealand’s Top 20 to visit PHL next week

The Philippines will be hosting a bevy of beauties next week with the arrival of the 20 finalists for Miss Universe-New Zealand, who will be in the country for a 10-day visit. 

The contestants, who were announced on August 7, will be accompanied by last year's title holder, Rachel Millns.

The Miss Universe-New Zealand organization had taken its finalists to Thailand the last two years, but this year CEO Nigel Godfrey has decided to bring them to the Philippines at the urging of BENCH owner Ben Chan.

For every night of the candidates' stay in the country, Miss Universe New Zealand will broadcast from their location, posting updates on Facebook, YouTube and other social networks. Their Philippine trip will also be featured in a half-hour TV travelogue.

The candidates will visit historic sites in Metro Manila such as Intramuros and Fort Santiago; shopping areas such as the Glorietta Mall in Makati City; and Tahan-tahanan in Quezon City to meet children with cancer.

They will then fly to Cebu, where they will model swimwear for the 2016 Miss Universe-New Zealand calendar, and then on to Bohol, where they will stay in Panglao and visit the province's most famous residents, the tarsiers.

Miss Universe New Zealand will be crowned on October 24. — BM, GMA News