Waitemat¨¡ Police Constable Abby Sturgin has been crowed Miss Universe New Zealand 2025.
The 28-year-old born and bred West Aucklander of Kiwi-Laos heritage, was up against 12 finalists from across the country for the illustrious title ¨C all while juggling the demands of frontline policing.
Abby is determined to help bring purpose to pageantry ¨C and challenge perceptions.
¡°Society has built this perception that you can't be pretty and have brains or work hard,¡± says Abby.
¡°I want to be able to show girls that you don't have to dumb down your achievements and your aspirations.
¡°I want them to think - wow, that's so cool. She's a police officer and she can wear 6-inch heels and a really beautiful gown.¡±
Abby intends to use her Miss Universe New Zealand profile as a platform to raise awareness for issues she¡¯s passionate about, such as family violence, and work alongside local charities.
She will represent New Zealand at the 74th Miss Universe competition, which will be held in Thailand in November.