Alan Raga

Above Sarah Munn wearing Shika Braddock Couture, photographed by Alan Raga with make-up by Kareen Donaldson and Earth 174.

Sarah Munn, who holds a BA in International Relations and Political Science and has also studied Law at Victoria University, has been selected to represent New Zealand in the World Miss University pageant. Miss Munn heads to Seoul, Korea later today, where she will participate in events relating to international relations and world peace, before the final night of December 11.
   Miss Munn, who was born in Wellington and grew up in Tauranga, has a strong record of academic achievement, balanced with an active university life. She has gained the Vic Plus Award at Victoria University this year, having completed the requisite voluntary work during the semester, been class representative nine times, and has actively organized events and extracurricular activities. She also works at the Crown Law Office in Wellington and with Air New Zealand.
   Miss Munn says, ‘I am proud to have been selected to represent New Zealand. I look forward to learning about the other cultures at World Miss University, sharing our country’s heritage, and discussing with my fellow contestants some of the solutions we would like to see employed for a more stable, global society.’
   Her interests, in international relations and human rights, have featured strongly in her life. It is not her first time representing New Zealand: Miss Munn has already represented her country at the Morioka Chuo International Student Forum on sustainability and leadership in Morioka, Japan. She has also been on a mission trip to Fiji and has travelled to the UK as part of a student programme during her college years.
   Miss Munn has also previously been involved with Lifezone Church in Tauranga. Her other interests include the performing arts, travel, snowboarding and wakeboarding. She had held the title of Miss Mt Maunganui 2009 and won the eveningwear segment at Miss Wellington 2010.
   Alex Lee, who runs the New Zealand arm of the pageant, says Miss Munn has a solid amount of experience relevant to the pageant and is an ideal candidate.
   Miss Munn’s national costumes have been supplied by Fashion Marketing Ltd., thanks to Lucire fashion editor Sopheak Seng, and Wellington designer Shika Braddock, who also provided one of her evening gowns.
   For the international folk craft show during the pageant, Tawa artist Tai Kerekere has gifted Miss Munn his Iden-tiki limited-edition prints, which reflects themes of self-identity as Maori and voting rights for Maori and for women in Aotearoa.
   The event, now in its 25th year, is organized by the International Association of University Presidents. Its organizing committee dispatches peace missions to regions such as Kosovo and Rwanda, and its 40–50 contestants each year have often had ambitions in international politics and diplomacy.
   The final, on December 11, will be held at the Sheraton Grand Walkerhill. Supporters can vote for Miss Munn at a voting page, to be announced by the organizers.—Jack Yan, Publisher